Influence of Three Levee-Strengthening Systems on Overtopping Hydraulic Parameters and Hydraulic Equivalency Analysis between Steady and Intermittent Overtopping

AbstractDifferent types of strengthening systems were introduced to protect the crest and land-side slope of the levees against surge overflow and wave overtopping after Hurricane Katrina. Three levee-strengthening systems, roller-compacted concrete, articulated concrete block, and high-performance turf reinforcement mat, were investigated through full-scale laboratory tests in this study. Hydraulic performances of these three levee-strengthening systems were compared to determine the effect of strengthening systems and to provide the equivalency analysis between surge-only overflow and combined wave and surge overtopping. The findings of this study indicate that the high-performance turf reinforcement mat system has the strongest effect in reducing and smoothing the overtopping discharge and in reducing the flow velocity and wavefront velocity on the land-side slope, whereas roller-compacted concrete has the weakest effect. Equivalency analysis between surge-only overflow and combined wave and surge over...

[1]  Gregory J. Hanson,et al.  Model Study of RCC Stepped Spillways with Sloped Converging Training Walls , 2008 .

[2]  Dominic E. Reeve,et al.  Numerical study of combined overflow and wave overtopping over a smooth impermeable seawall , 2008 .

[3]  Jentsje W. van der Meer,et al.  FIELD TESTS ON SEA DEFENCES SUBJECT TO WAVE OVERTOPPING , 2009 .

[4]  Kem C. Kadavy,et al.  Physical Model Study of a RCC Stepped Spillway for Renwick Dam, North Dakota , 2007 .

[5]  R. E. Wahl,et al.  Overview of New Orleans Levee Failures: Lessons Learned and Their Impact on National Levee Design and Assessment , 2008 .

[6]  J. W. Van der Meer.  Guidance on erosion resistance of inner slopes of dikes from 3 years of testing with the Wave Overtopping Simulator , 2009 .

[7]  G. J. Hanson,et al.  Observed Erosion Processes During Embankment Overtopping Tests , 2003 .

[8]  Die Küste,et al.  Die Küste, 73 EurOtop (2007), 1-178 , 2008 .

[9]  Kenneth D. Hansen,et al.  Roller Compacted Concrete for Embankment Overtopping Protection , 1993 .

[10]  K. D. Hansen.  EROSION AND ABRASION RESISTANCE OF SOIL-CEMENT AND ROLLER-COMPACTED CONCRETE , 2002 .

[11]  Vladimir Nikora,et al.  Despiking Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter Data , 2002 .

[12]  Steven A. Hughes,et al.  Laboratory study of combined wave overtopping and storm surge overflow of a levee , 2009 .

[13]  Roy J. Nelsen,et al.  Research Quantifies Performance of TRM Reinforced Vegetation , 2005 .

[14]  Gregory J. Hanson,et al.  Physical modeling of overtopping erosion and breach formation of cohesive embankments , 2005 .

[15]  Robert G. Dean,et al.  Erosional Equivalences of Levees: Steady and Intermittent Wave Overtopping , 2010 .

[16]  Kem C. Kadavy,et al.  Embankment Overtopping and RCC Stepped Spillway Research , 2005 .