Navigation Locks in the Netherlands – Lock Chamber Typology and Failure Analysis

Abstract

Navigation locks play a crucial role in the inland waterway network of the Netherlands. Although these structures typically have been designed with an intended service life of 100 years, their actual technical end of life is often unknown. Insight into the failure mechanisms and their triggers is required to better predict their technical condition and what demands they face. Only then is it possible to decide whether it is safe and economically beneficial to extend their lifetime. To determine the failure mechanisms and triggers for failure, it is required to know which type of structures are present. Five main types of lock chamber structures have been identified based on an archival investigation of locks of Rijkswaterstaat. For all these typologies common failure and degradation mechanisms have been investigated. The outcome of this research supports asset owners and engineers in their process of assessing the structural reliability of navigation locks.