Flow and detailed 3D morphodynamic data from laboratory experiments of fluvial dike breaching

Ismail Rifai,Benjamin Dewals,Damien Violeau,Pierre Archambeau,Kamal El Kadi Abderrezzak,Sébastien Erpicum,Michel Pirotton

doi:10.1038/s41597-019-0057-y

Ismail Rifai, Benjamin Dewals + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-019-0057-y

Copy DOI

Abstract

This paper presents a dataset obtained from fifty four laboratory experiments of the breaching of fluvial dikes due to flow overtopping. Data were collected on two complementary experimental setups, each consisting of a main channel representing the river, an erodible lateral dike and a floodplain. The dataset covers seven test series, involving varying hydraulic boundary conditions (e.g. inflow discharge, downstream boundary conditions), main channel dimensions, as well as bottom and dike material. The following experimental data were produced: time series of water levels in the main channel, time series of flow discharges in the main channel and through the breach, as well as high resolution 3D reconstructions of the breach geometry during its expansion. The latter measurements were performed using a novel non-intrusive laser profilometry technique developed for this research. Reuse of the collected data will support efforts to improve our understanding of the physical processes underpinning fluvial dike breaching. It will also enable benchmarking the accuracy of conceptual or detailed numerical models for the prediction of dike breaching, which is central to flood risk management.

Highlights

Background & SummaryFluvial dikes, i.e embankment levees, along river banks, are built to channelize the flow and limit lateral riverbed migration, or as defence structures against floods
Different dike failure mechanisms can be identified, which can be categorized as[5,6]: (i) Instability, referring to defects on dike structural integrity when soil particle movement active strengths exceed resistant strengths[7], (ii) Internal erosion through the dike and/or foundation body due to seepage flows, (iii) External erosion, which broadly encompasses mechanisms involving wearing of the structure surface due to floods, waves, wind, or any other natural process[8]
Dike overtopping occurs if the river discharge exceeds the design value of the dike during a flood event, or, broadly, if the water level exceeds the dike crest or the flow overtops a weak dike segment

Summary

Background & Summary

I.e embankment levees, along river banks, are built to channelize the flow and limit lateral riverbed migration, or as defence structures against floods. Despite the major relevance of the topic for public safety, and despite several leading research groups and engineering entities seeking the development of reliable dike breaching models, major uncertainties regarding the physical processes are still hampering the proper consideration of fluvial dike breaching for flood risk analysis and management[2,3]. The present dataset is the outcome of a research project aiming at improving our understanding of the physical processes underpinning breach expansion and breach hydraulics in the case of fluvial dike failures[3,12]. The present dataset[13] complements and comprises findings, counting datasets, discussed in two previous research papers: (i) the experiments conducted by Rifai et al.[3] which focuses on the channel flow condition effects on dike breaching and (ii) the work conducted by Rifai et al.[12] investigating tailwater effects, i.e. water level increase on the floodplain side, on breach expansion dynamics. The generated dataset enables a thorough understanding of the mechanisms involved in breach expansion, and, on the other hand, it constitutes a sound database for testing modelling hypotheses and validating numerical models

Methods

Findings

Code Availability