Destructive wave overtopping tests on Flemish dikes

Breaching of dikes induced by wave overtopping is one of the main failure mechanisms causing coastal floods. But also at (estuarine) river dikes overtopping may occur. In order to increase knowledge on this mechanism, the performances of grass cover layers and the parameters involved, research is performed with the Wave Overtopping Simulator. Following field tests in The Netherlands, this knowledge was expanded by tests performed in Flanders (Belgium) at a controlled inundation area at Tielrode near Antwerp.