Back-analysis of Eemdijk full-scale failure test on sheet pile reinforced dike
Back-analysis of Eemdijk full-scale failure test on sheet pile reinforced dike
The Netherlands is inherently challenged by the sea as a major part of the country lies below average sea level. Subsidence, sea level rise, and the increase of rain intensity and river discharge due to climate change further challenge existing flood defenses to maintain required levels of safety. To do so, the top elevation of existing earthen dikes is often incrementally raised over time. However, raising a dike requires an extension of its base, which is frequently restricted by the presence of existing buildings and other spatial constraints. These dikes can be reinforced by alternative means such as a sheet pile wall. This paper focuses on improving on the global stability assessment and modeling challenges of dike reinforcement using sheet piles. The models are validated on the full-scale failure test. (In Dutch: Eemdijk damwandproef), initiated by the Dutch Flood Protection Programme. The back-analysis confirms the validity of the constitutive models and close approximation of the field measurements. Despite the good fit, it is concluded that there is still room for improvement.
H. J. Lengkeek
21st International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (Vienna)
TC220
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICSMGE2026-482
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