Numerical simulation of dike erosion process due to overtopping flow

Abstract

Dike failures due to overtopping flows have recently occurred during floods. It is of great importance to understand the mechanism of dike failure processes and to predict dike erosion accurately for disaster mitigation. In this study, a numerical model to simulate dike breaching is developed based on a three-dimensional flow model in porous media and density function methods, and a non-equilibrium sediment transport model. Infiltration into a dike is also considered in the simulation. First, a numerical model is applied to flows over a solid embankment in order to validate the flow model. Then, dike erosion processes are simulated. Compared with the previous experimental results, it is shown that the numerical model can reproduce overflows and dike failure processes reasonably.