Experimental study on the process behavior of Backward Erosion Piping in levee and dam foundations (X-BEP)
Table of contents
Brief description
Flooding caused by high water levels is a growing global threat to populations and critical infrastructure. Flood protection frequently relies on levees and dams, whose failure can have severe consequences. One significant failure mechanism for such structures is backward erosion piping (BEP), a form of internal erosion. In BEP, sand grains are eroded from the foundation by concentrated groundwater flow, forming pipe-like erosion channels that progress from the downstream to the upstream side. This process can ultimately lead to a breach of the flood defense. Reliable prediction of BEP remains challenging, as key erosion mechanisms are not yet fully understood.
The X-BEP project aims to improve the understanding of BEP processes through systematic laboratory model experiments. A newly developed experimental setup enables detailed investigation of the main influencing factors, with a particular focus on the role of vertical seepage forces on erosion at the pipe tip (primary erosion) and along the pipe (secondary erosion). The experimental approach combines conventional measurement techniques with advanced sensor technology and imaging methods to capture both the initiation and further development of erosion pipes at high resolution. These experimental findings will be complemented and extended by numerical simulations. By deriving new erosion criteria, the project seeks to lay the foundation for more reliable BEP prediction models. This will contribute to designing flood protection structures that are safe, climate-resilient, and cost-effective. The project has an interdisciplinary orientation and fosters collaboration with international research partners to ensure that findings are transferable to real-world structure dimensions.
Media
Visualization of the primary and secondary erosion processes in a levee cross-section © J. Pol / HKV Consultants
Pore pressure distribution inside and in front of the pipe with acting forces on the grain structure at the pipe tip (primary erosion) © M. Wewer / IWD
a) Laminar flow profile in a pipe without vertical inflow, b) Laminar flow profile in a pipe with vertical inflow, c) Equilibrium of forces on a grain at the pipe bed (secondary erosion) © M. Wewer / IWD
3D view of the experimental BEP setup (not to scale) © M. Wewer / IWD
Photo of the experimental BEP setup in the hydraulic laboratory of the TU Dresden © M. Wewer / IWD
Photo showing the development of piping erosion in an experiment with a duration of about two hours' duration © M. Wewer / IWD
Application of photogrammetry to determine pipe size using a 3D point cloud following the experimental test © M. Wewer / IWD
Flow pattern in the sand sample under the influence of a cut-off wall at half the seepage length © M. Wewer / IWD
Project data
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Core information |
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Project period |
01/11/2025 - 30/04/2028 |
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Type of funding |
Third-party funding |
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Funding body |
DFG |
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TUD Research Priority Areas |
Energy, Mobility and Environment ' Water Research |
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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) |
SDG 11 - Sustainable cities and communities SDG 13 - Climate action |
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Keywords |
Laboratory test, flood protection, internal erosion, dyke and dam safety |
Project management
© Andrè Terpe
Professor
NameMr Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Stamm
Head of Inst., Chair Hyd. Eng. & School of Civ. & Environ. Eng.
Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).
Office of the Chair of Hydraulic Engineering
Visiting address:
Beyer-Bau, Room 04-22 George-Bähr-Str. 1
01069 Dresden
Office hours:
Appointments only by prior arrangement (phone or email)
Project management
© André Terpe
Research Associate
NameMr Dipl.-Ing. Manuel Wewer
Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).
Office of the Chair of Hydraulic Engineering
Visiting address:
Beyer-Bau, Room 04-24 George-Bähr-Str. 1
01069 Dresden
Office hours:
Please arrange a specific appointment in advance by e-mail.
Project partners
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Partner:in |
Type |
Website |
| TU Delft, Department of Hydraulic Engineering |
External |
https://www.tudelft.nl/citg/over-faculteit/afdelingen/hydraulic-engineering |
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Deltares, Department of Flood Defense Technologies |
External |
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United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Risk Management Center |
External |
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IIT Roorkee, Hydraulic Engineering Group |
External |
Publications
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Further Information
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Promotion
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