Dike breaching due to overtopping

Dikes along rivers protect a valley including its population and property from floods. Many dikes have not been maintained for decades and overtopping has caused large damages. These flood events highlight the need to understand the damage processes due to overtopping in detail. An accurate prediction of dike failure is essential to develop effective emergency action plans. In this research project, systematic plane dike breach tests due to overtopping were conducted in a laboratory channel to examine the dike erosion process and the physical model limitations. All dikes were of trapezoidal shape, consisted of uniform non-cohesive sediment and were homogeneous, i.e. not protected by a core or a surface layer. The project provides general results regarding the overflow erosion process, seepage effects and scaling issues.