Overflowing erosion modelling of embankment and concrete dams: state of the art and research needs

Courivaud, J. and Laugier, F. and Morris, M. (2018) Overflowing erosion modelling of embankment and concrete dams: state of the art and research needs. In: Protections 2018 (3rd International Conference on Protection against Overtopping), 6-8 June 2018, Grange-over-Sands, UK.

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Abstract

Overflowing erosion of embankment dams and levees and overflowing erosion of bedrock downstream of concrete dams (through crest overflowing or spillway flow impact) are of major concern for dam and levee owners. Despite extensive research efforts performed in North America and Europe since the late 1990s, many gaps in knowledge still need to be answered in order to provide engineers with validated numerical tools able to predict the erosion mechanisms to an acceptable level of certainty. As addressing these gaps in knowledge will likely require a substantial and expensive research effort, international research collaboration in this field seems the most efficient way to reach these objectives. In order to structure and launch such international collaboration, an international workshop was organized in Aussois, France, from 11th to 14th December 2017, on behalf of the European Group of ICOLD and the French Committee on Dams and Reservoirs. This paper presents the outcomes of this workshop and includes a presentation of the state of the art in overflowing erosion of embankment dams and levees, overflowing erosion of bedrock downstream of concrete dams, the main knowledge gaps which need to be addressed and the outlines of a future international research project to solve these issues.

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