Modelling Backward Erosion Piping in Tidal Deposits

Including the fines fraction in the onset of motion criterion to model backward erosion piping below Groningen sea dikes

Master Thesis (2025)
Author(s)

S.C. Veenland (TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)

Contributor(s)

E.M. van der Linde – Mentor (TU Delft - Hydraulic Structures and Flood Risk)

Juan Aguilar Lopez – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Hydraulic Structures and Flood Risk)

Jan Willem Nieuwenhuis – Graduation committee member (Waterschap Noorderzijlvest)

Anne-Catherine Dieudonné – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Geo-engineering)

Marc P. Hijma – Graduation committee member (Deltares)

Faculty
Civil Engineering & Geosciences
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Graduation Date
17-07-2025
Awarding Institution
Delft University of Technology
Faculty
Civil Engineering & Geosciences
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Abstract

Backward erosion piping (BEP) is a common failure mechanism of dikes. Dikes are currently assessed on this mechanism with the Sellmeijer 2011 rule, a method based on experiments with homogeneous deposits. However, the presence of tidal fines positively influences the cohesive strength of soils and the embedding of the soil grains in the soil matrix. For analytical assessment of BEP, a strength factor of 1.4 [-] is currently used in Dutch regulations to incorporate the extra strength due to tidal deposits. Tidal deposits also correlate with anisotropy in hydraulic conductivity due to the layering of tidal deposits. This influences flow patterns in the aquifer, thereby affecting the BEP process...

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