Experimental study on the performance analysis of river levee using new substance for improving earth surface resistance

Abstract

The reasons why levee breaches during floods are largely due to overtopping, seepage, and structurally induced piping. According to an analysis of domestic and overseas reported cases of levee breaches, overtopping was found to be the cause for approximately 40% of all cases of breach. Despite such efforts of previous research to establish disaster prevention plans associated with levee breaches, to enhance our understanding of the processes and reasons, further research regarding the prediction of levee breaches must be undertaken by accumulating test data under several different conditions and further verification of the data using numerical models must also be undertaken. In this study, development of technologies regarding a new environmentally friendly bio-polymer capable of protecting levees from erosion is being undertaken. Breach mechanisms was assessed using an image measurement system that collected data regarding the breach progress of the levee, close-up views of the breaching surface, and the formation of the final breaching cross-sections. Further, levee slopes were covered with a bio-soil mixed with a new substance for the purpose of analyzing the stability and the time delay effect.