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A 3D time-dependent backward erosion piping model

Pol, J.C. (author), Noordam, Aron (author), Kanning, W. (author)

Backward erosion piping (BEP) is a failure mechanism of hydraulic structures like dams and levees on cohesionless foundations subjected to seepage flows. This article models the time-dependent development of BEP using numerical simulation of the erosion process. A 3-dimensional finite element equilibrium BEP model is extended with a...

journal article 2024

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The Effect of a Confining Cover Layer on Backward Erosion Piping Process: Investigation of the initial heave progression

Willemstein, Lotte (author)

The Netherlands is prone to flooding as more than a quarter of the country lies under sea level. To combat flooding and ensure that the country remains dry structures such are levees and dikes have been installed. However, older water retaining structures are more than ever failing the stringent safety standard assessments. These older...

master thesis 2023

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Deeper piping erosion: Finding how to model it and what contributes to the emergence of a deeper pipe

Coevert, Steven (author)

The Netherlands is a country that is being threatened by water, both from the rivers and from the sea. The Dutch have built dikes to keep their lands from inundation. To ensure the strength and stability of these dikes, they are being assessed on the basis of several failure mechanisms. One of these failure mechanisms is...

master thesis 2023

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The effect of interactions between failure mechanisms on the reliability of flood defenses

Pol, J.C. (author), Kindermann, P.E. (author), van der Krogt, M.G. (author), van Bergeijk, Vera M. (author), Remmerswaal, G. (author), Kanning, W. (author), Jonkman, Sebastiaan N. (author), Kok, M. (author)

Structural reliability analysis often considers failure mechanisms as correlated but non-interacting processes. Interacting failure mechanisms affect each others performance, and thereby the system reliability. We describe such interactions in the context of flood defenses, and analyze under which conditions such interactions have a large impact...

journal article 2023

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Time-dependent development of Backward Erosion Piping

Pol, J.C. (author)

Structural flood protection systems such as levees are an important component in flood risk reduction strategies. Levees can fail through various failure mechanisms; this thesis focuses on the mechanism Backward Erosion Piping (BEP) which occurs when a sandy levee foundation is eroded by groundwater flow. To assess whether a levee's reliability...

doctoral thesis 2022

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Numerical interpretation of regressive localized internal erosion in a real-scale levee physical model

Callari, Carlo (author), Pol, J.C. (author)

This paper presents the numerical interpretation of a recent experiment on a real-scale levee physical model, in order to investigate the process of Backward Erosion Piping (BEP) and validate a recently proposed finite element formulation able to model both the simultaneous processes observed in backward erosion piping, i.e. the propagation of...

journal article 2022

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Errors in finite element analysis of backward erosion piping

Robbins, B. A. (author), van Beek, V. M. (author), Pol, J.C. (author), Griffiths, D. V. (author)

Backward erosion piping (BEP) is a type of internal erosion responsible for the failure of many dams and levees. BEP occurs when small, shallow erosion channels progress upstream through foundation sands beneath the structure. As analysis of BEP involves coupling two different sets of flow equations to describe the groundwater flow and...

journal article 2022

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Temporal evolution of backward erosion piping in small-scale experiments

Pol, J.C. (author), Kanning, W. (author), van Beek, Vera M. (author), Robbins, Bryant A. (author), Jonkman, Sebastiaan N. (author)

Backward erosion piping (BEP) is a form of internal erosion which can lead to failure of levees and dams. Most research focused on the critical head difference at which piping failure occurs. Two aspects have received less attention, namely (1) the temporal evolution of piping and (2) the local hydraulic conditions in the pipe and at the pipe...

journal article 2022

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Enhancing reliability of dikes: An approach for assessing benefits of pore pressure monitoring and pressure relief wells in spatially variable soils

Bruins Slot, Hilco (author)

The Netherlands is a country prone to flooding. Recent assessments led to the insight that protection levels of many flood defences should be increased. Integrating reinforcement measures is a difficult task as many dikes are situated in densely populated areas. Conventional reinforcement measures include berm construction or the implementation...

master thesis 2021

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A transient backward erosion piping model based on laminar flow transport equations

Wewer, M. (author), Aguilar Lopez, J.P. (author), Kok, M. (author), Bogaard, T.A. (author)

Backward erosion piping is an internal erosion process, which compromises the stability of water retaining structures such as dams and levees. In this paper, we propose a numerical solution that combines a 2D Darcy groundwater solution with Exner's 1D sediment transport mass conservation equation. As an estimate of sediment transport, we...

journal article 2021

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Opdrijven, opbollen, opbarsten: Improving the uplift model for the assessment of internal erosion

Tao, Yida (author)

Internal erosion is a frequent cause of dike failure, also known as piping or backward erosion. Uplift is considered a submechanism of internal erosion, together with heave and piping, where all three submechanisms must occur for the dike to reach a failure condition. The principle of the uplift phenomenon is straightforward: it occurs when high...

master thesis 2020

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The effect of leakage on backward erosion piping: A modelling study in 2D and 3D

Barendsen, Lot (author)

In the Netherlands, dikes are the most commonly used structures to retain water and provide safety against flooding. In order to ensure the safety of these dikes against a number of different failure mechanisms such as backwards erosion piping, wave overtopping and macro stability, a detailed safety assessment has been created. The focus of this...

master thesis 2020

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Backward erosion piping: Experiments on erosion and progression rate

van Klaveren, Wouter (author)

Backward erosion piping is a form of internal erosion where small pipes are formed below a dike. These pipes are formed in a direction opposite to the flow that transports sand particles. Piping is a very important failure mechanism in the protection of dikes, which can be unpredictable due to the different soil characteristics. Piping is well...

master thesis 2020

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Monitoring Backward Erosion Piping with Self-Potential Geophysics

Gevaert, Joost (author)

Backward erosion piping is a dike failure mechanism. It is the internal erosion process by which sand is eroded away from underneath a dike or levee by seepage flow. This erosion process progresses in the direction opposite to the direction of seepage flow and forms a small pipe directly beneath the dike. As erosion continues, this process can...

master thesis 2019

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Interaction between the failure mechanisms backward erosion piping and slope instability: Identification and quantification of interactions between failure mechanisms of a levee

van der Doef, Laura (author)

With the shift of the safety standards for levees from exceedance probability (standard 1996) to flooding probability (new standard), the part of the levee failure process after the initial occurrence of a failure mechanism becomes more important for the calculation of the strength and thus, reliability of the levee cross-section. Interactions...

master thesis 2019

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Bayesian Inference of Piping Model Uncertainties Based on Field Observations

Kanning, W. (author), Schweckendiek, T. (author)

This paper presents a Bayesian model to determine the model uncertainty of a critical horizontal gradient model for piping for dikes, such a Lane and Bligh. A Bayesian model is needed for two reasons. First, there is a large overlap in cases that failed and survived. Second, the evidence of the failed cases is limited .The model consists of a...

conference paper 2019

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Integral Failure Analysis of Pipelines in Flood Defenses

van der Meer, Anton (author), Schweckendiek, T. (author), Kruse, Henk (author), Schelfhout, Harry (author)

The presence of pipelines in flood defenses presents a challenge for assessing the probability of flooding. To prevent costly structural measures compensating for the possible negative effects of pipeline failure, we developed a framework for an integral failure analysis of pipeline and dike failure. The assessment framework is based on an event...

conference paper 2019

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Numerical modeling of small-scale experiments for a coarse sand barrier as a measure against backward erosion piping: (Abstract)

Rosenbrand, E. (author), van Beek, V.M. (author), van Esch, J.M. (author), Noordam, A. (author), Pederzani, F. (author), Vandenboer, K. (author), Bezuijen, A. (author)

conference paper 2017

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The Coursier Dam sinkholes: a case study of backward erosion as a consequence of filter incompatibility: (Abstract)

Fannin, R.J. (author), Roos, D. (author)

conference paper 2017

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Numerical simulation of the groundwater flow leading to sand boil reactivation in the Po River: (Paper and Abstract)

García Martínez, M.F. (author), Marchi, M. (author), Tonni, L. (author), Gottardi, G. (author), Bezuijen, A. (author), Rosso, A. (author)

The reliability of river embankments is essential for flood risk management. The Po River, which flows through the North of Italy, is safeguarded over half of its length by major river embankments. Performance assessment of such water-retaining structures has become a major concern following some significant flood events in the past. Among the...

conference paper 2017