Johannes Wibowo - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Johannes Wibowo

The primary purpose for developing this protocol is to test and evaluate the effectiveness of var... more The primary purpose for developing this protocol is to test and evaluate the effectiveness of various types of expedient flood-fighting devices. Vendors of a wide range of commercial expedient structures are competing for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers emergency flood-fighting funds. These structures vary widely in form and function. For

The general objectives of the centrifuge tests for this research were to model a realistic geolog... more The general objectives of the centrifuge tests for this research were to model a realistic geologic prototype of a levee with a foundation containing a sand layer that is susceptible to an internal erosion/piping failure mechanism with objectives to initiate and monitor piping. Parameters that could influence piping/erosion in levee foundation soils were evaluated (i.e., depth of erodible material, density of erodible material, and confining stress). Centrifuge testing and numerical modeling were performed on three geotechnical models constructed with soils similar to those found in the US Army Corps of Engineers levee portfolio. Models 1 and 2 had a clay levee that was founded on a Nevada Sand layer sandwiched between two Longhorn Red Clay layers. Model 3 had a foundation consisting of a Longhorn Red Clay top layer, then a clayey sand layer, followed by Nevada Sand and, finally, a bottom layer of Longhorn Red Clay. Varying gravity loadings were selected based on a prototype structure 5 to 12 ft. in height. All models developed piping that moved from a downstream relief hole back under the levee toward the upstream reservoir. The results from the three centrifuge tests showed that subsurface erosion could be modeled in a centrifuge.

The contents of this report are not to be used for acvertising, publication, or promotional purpo... more The contents of this report are not to be used for acvertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. v Conversion Factors, Non-SI to SI (Metric) Units of Measurement Non-SI units of measurement used in this report can be converted to SI (metric) units as follows: Multiply By To Obtain feet 0.3048 meters pounds per square inch 6.894 pascals vi 1 All logs in DM22 (USAED, Jacksonville 1988a) were documented using feet.

Within the United States, sandbags have traditionally been the product of choice for temporary, b... more Within the United States, sandbags have traditionally been the product of choice for temporary, barrier type flood-fighting structures. However, sandbag structures are labor intensive and time consuming to construct. Therefore, a need exists for more expedient, cost effective, temporary barrier type flood-fighting technologies. In 2004, Congress directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to devise real-world testing procedures for Rapid Deployment Flood Wall (RDFW) and other promising alternative flood-fighting technologies. In response to that directive, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) developed a comprehensive laboratory and field-testing program for RDFW and two other flood-fighting products. Those two products, Portadam and Hesco Bastion, were selected on technical merit from proposals submitted by companies who manufacture temporary, barrier type flood-fight products. A standard sandbag structure was also tested in both the laboratory and field to p...

Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, 2009

ABSTRACT Earthen levee damage from storm surge overtopping in the New Orleans area was observed a... more ABSTRACT Earthen levee damage from storm surge overtopping in the New Orleans area was observed and documented after Hurricane Katrina. Some levee reaches were undamaged and some were slightly eroded, while other portions were completely breached. The in situ jet index test method was applied along selected post-storm reconstructed levee reaches to assess levee fill erodibil-ity. Jet index testing was also conducted at three undamaged (un-eroded) levee surface locations. Pre-storm levee profiles (elevations) were compared to post-storm modeled storm water elevations to estimate overtopping depths at the test sites. Also, pre-storm levee profiles were compared to post-storm profiles to estimate erosion depths at the test sites. The jet index test results were integrated with pre-storm soil boring data (i.e., stratigraphy and soil classification), post-storm erosion depths, and overtopping depths to investigate soil surface erodibility relationships. The results showed the validity of using the jet index test method for levee soil erodibility assessments.

: Field jet erosion tests (JETs) were conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Developmen... more : Field jet erosion tests (JETs) were conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) to assess the erodibility of two enlargement segments within the Mississippi River Levee (MRL) Collocated Demonstration Section in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The first segment was constructed of Bonnet Carr clay with a fly-ash/bed-ash blend treatment, and the second segment was constructed of Bonnet Carr clay treated with lime. In addition, a section of untreated clay on the original levee was also tested. Overall, the field JET data showed that the clay treated with lime was categorized as resistant to very resistant. The fly-ash/bedash- treated clay was categorized as moderately resistant and resistant. When compared to the existing, untreated clay levee, both treatments reduced the erodibility of the soil. However, the field JET results showed that lime treatment performed better than the fly-ash/ bed-ash treatment.

Abstract : Existing bridge pier scour prediction equations exclude the influence of tree roots an... more Abstract : Existing bridge pier scour prediction equations exclude the influence of tree roots and the cross slope of levee embankments. Developed for specific conditions, these equations do not include modeling of scour at trees near or on levee embankments. Therefore, existing bridge pier scour models must be carefully evaluated and possibly modified before being applied to tree scour. The research conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) included review and evaluation of the Sheppard-Melville and the Federal Highway Administration Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 18 (FHWA HEC-18) bridge pier scour equations and validation flume experiments. The research objective was to provide guidance for predicting maximum scour depths near trees on or near levee embankments. The Sheppard-Melville and the HEC-18 methods of bridge pier scour prediction were evaluated. Results from the flume experiments indicate that both methods consistently over-predict scour depth by as much as 25 to 75 percent. Although other bridge scour equations can be used, both the Sheppard-Melville and the HEC-18 equations are sufficient in assessing tree scour potential to conservatively estimate maximum scour that may occur.

Overtopping is one of the major causes of dams and levees failure. There is uncertainty in estima... more Overtopping is one of the major causes of dams and levees failure. There is uncertainty in estimation of the erosion parameters especially for coarse- grained materials that comprise the outer shell layer of dams as well as homogenous levees that are constructed of such materials. In this paper, results from a box test performed on three coarse grained materials in a 0.3-meter wide flume are discussed. The three materials share the same median grain size D50 of 2 mm, however, they vary in fines content between zero to 20%. The box measured 0.3 m wide x 0.6 m long x 0.15 m deep. Each of the three materials was compacted in the box at near optimum moisture content and dry density as determined from standard Proctor test. Each material was tested at varying hydraulic loadings to determine the erosion rate after equal time intervals. The water depth and velocity were measured at each hydraulic loading using Pitot tubes and the acting bed shear was calculated. The effect of fines content...

The prediction of how an embankment dam or flood levee may erode, and ultimately breach, is funda... more The prediction of how an embankment dam or flood levee may erode, and ultimately breach, is fundamental to identifying and managing flood risk in partnership with cost effective asset management. Flood risk analyses, built upon levee and dam breach predictions, may underpin emergency action plans, critical infrastructure performance and land use planning. Research over the past decade or so combining large scale field testing, breach model development and validation has tended to focus on the performance of finer, cohesive materials with a reasonable understanding and prediction of head cut processes developing. However, not all dams and levees are constructed from the ideal grading of fine and cohesive materials, with some containing worrying amounts of coarser non cohesive material. This poster outlines research conducted by EDF, HR Wallingford, and the U.S. Army Engineer and Development Center (ERDC) that plans to investigate the erosion performance of coarser grained materials f...

To evaluate the potential influence of a tree on embankment stability, it is necessary to estimat... more To evaluate the potential influence of a tree on embankment stability, it is necessary to estimate the void that will occur in the embankment if the root system were to fail from storm loads. Currently, there is no published scientific literature focusing solely on this issue from an engineering perspective. This study reviewed existing research regarding windthrow pit dimensions for the purpose of developing a data set to estimate void dimensions. Twelve studies from which data regarding void dimensions could be obtained were found, resulting in a total of 676 data points. From these data, relationships that predict windthrow pit diameter and depth as a function of tree diameter were developed. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents.

This report summarizes the results of 42 laboratory Jet Erosion Tests performed on Plexiglas tube... more This report summarizes the results of 42 laboratory Jet Erosion Tests performed on Plexiglas tube samples obtained from the Lower American River (LAR) between River Mile (RM) 6.0 and RM 10.0. The results from these tests will be used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, in assessments of the erosion resistance of the LAR from increases in discharge from 115,000 cfs to 160,000 cfs from Folsom Dam. The test specimens were obtained from 22, 4-in.-diam Plexiglas tube samples. The variations in values of the measured erosion parameters may have been caused by variations in the materials for some of the tested samples (i.e., when the material changed from silt/sand to clay). However, the variations in results for many of the samples were due to changes in the quality of samples. The resulting values of Erodibility Coefficient, Kd, and Critical Stress, τc, are very useful information in assessing the erodibility of riverbanks as well as the river bed itself. Because of the observed natural variability of the materials, combining the erosion parameters presented in this report with the drilling logs and local geology will provide beneficial results for assessing the stability of the LAR. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents.

The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purpo... more The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents. DESTROY THIS REPORT WHEN NO LONGER NEEDED. DO NOT RETURN IT TO THE ORIGINATOR.

E3S Web of Conferences, 2016

Efforts are currently underway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to perform a risk asse... more Efforts are currently underway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to perform a risk assessment of all dams and levees within their portfolio. The vast majority of that portfolio is earthen structures. Findings from the assessments have shown that the major risk drivers for these earth structures are related to erosion (internal and external), overtopping, poorly designed and constructed intrusions (such as pipe crossings), and other factors to a lesser degree (such as burrowing animals). Therefore, the USACE is currently investigating several of these failure modes with emphasis on internal and external erosion. This paper will highlight efforts to investigate surface erosion, which may lead to breach formation and growth, by use of laboratory scale model testing to understand and properly capture the physics of the problem. These data are informing improvement and development of numeral methods for use in ongoing risk assessments.

Research for Policy and Practice, 2012

Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2018

This report summarizes the results of eight field Jet Erosion Tests (JETs) performed on Benbrook ... more This report summarizes the results of eight field Jet Erosion Tests (JETs) performed on Benbrook Dam, TX. The results from these tests will be used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, in assessments of the erosion resistance of the Benbrook Dam with regards to possible overtopping by extreme flooding. The JETs were performed at four different locations, i.e., two locations at the lowest crest elevation and two locations at the mid-slope face of the downstream embankment. Variations in estimated critical hydraulic shear stress and erosion rate values may have been caused by differences in soil composition, i.e., when the material changed from silt/sand to clay. The resulting values of the Erodibility Coefficient, Kd, and Critical Stress, τc, are very useful information in assessing the stability of Benbrook Dam during an overtopping event. Because of the observed natural variability of the materials, combining the erosion parameters presented in this report with...

Construction Research Congress 2016, 2016

E3S Web of Conferences, 2016

Sandbags have traditionally been the product of choice for temporary, barrier-type, flood-fightin... more Sandbags have traditionally been the product of choice for temporary, barrier-type, flood-fighting structures. However, sandbag structures are labor intensive and time consuming to construct and may not always be the best choice when selecting a flood-fighting barrier. To compare different barriers, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) developed a standard protocol to evaluate flood-fighting structures. Rapid Deployment Flood Wall (RDFW), Portadam, and Hesco Bastion were selected for testing based on technical merit from proposals submitted by companies that manufacture barrier-type, flood-fighting products. A standard sandbag structure was also tested. The evaluation included time, ease, and cost of construction, performance under hydrostatic and wave loading, overtopping, debris impact, possible repair, reuse, environmental impact, and cost. The results of the evaluation showed that the RDFW performed well but is more expensive than the other structures and also not easy to disassemble. The Portadam was efficient under hydraulic loading but did not test well in the debris impact tests. The Hesco levee performed well except for the amount of seepage that was observed. The Hesco levee was later retested after the company improved the product, and much less seepage was observed during the retest. The sandbag levee failed during the overtopping test. These results provide the flood-fighting community with results that will assist in the selection of the product that best fits their need.

The primary purpose for developing this protocol is to test and evaluate the effectiveness of var... more The primary purpose for developing this protocol is to test and evaluate the effectiveness of various types of expedient flood-fighting devices. Vendors of a wide range of commercial expedient structures are competing for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers emergency flood-fighting funds. These structures vary widely in form and function. For

The general objectives of the centrifuge tests for this research were to model a realistic geolog... more The general objectives of the centrifuge tests for this research were to model a realistic geologic prototype of a levee with a foundation containing a sand layer that is susceptible to an internal erosion/piping failure mechanism with objectives to initiate and monitor piping. Parameters that could influence piping/erosion in levee foundation soils were evaluated (i.e., depth of erodible material, density of erodible material, and confining stress). Centrifuge testing and numerical modeling were performed on three geotechnical models constructed with soils similar to those found in the US Army Corps of Engineers levee portfolio. Models 1 and 2 had a clay levee that was founded on a Nevada Sand layer sandwiched between two Longhorn Red Clay layers. Model 3 had a foundation consisting of a Longhorn Red Clay top layer, then a clayey sand layer, followed by Nevada Sand and, finally, a bottom layer of Longhorn Red Clay. Varying gravity loadings were selected based on a prototype structure 5 to 12 ft. in height. All models developed piping that moved from a downstream relief hole back under the levee toward the upstream reservoir. The results from the three centrifuge tests showed that subsurface erosion could be modeled in a centrifuge.

The contents of this report are not to be used for acvertising, publication, or promotional purpo... more The contents of this report are not to be used for acvertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. v Conversion Factors, Non-SI to SI (Metric) Units of Measurement Non-SI units of measurement used in this report can be converted to SI (metric) units as follows: Multiply By To Obtain feet 0.3048 meters pounds per square inch 6.894 pascals vi 1 All logs in DM22 (USAED, Jacksonville 1988a) were documented using feet.

Within the United States, sandbags have traditionally been the product of choice for temporary, b... more Within the United States, sandbags have traditionally been the product of choice for temporary, barrier type flood-fighting structures. However, sandbag structures are labor intensive and time consuming to construct. Therefore, a need exists for more expedient, cost effective, temporary barrier type flood-fighting technologies. In 2004, Congress directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to devise real-world testing procedures for Rapid Deployment Flood Wall (RDFW) and other promising alternative flood-fighting technologies. In response to that directive, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) developed a comprehensive laboratory and field-testing program for RDFW and two other flood-fighting products. Those two products, Portadam and Hesco Bastion, were selected on technical merit from proposals submitted by companies who manufacture temporary, barrier type flood-fight products. A standard sandbag structure was also tested in both the laboratory and field to p...

Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, 2009

ABSTRACT Earthen levee damage from storm surge overtopping in the New Orleans area was observed a... more ABSTRACT Earthen levee damage from storm surge overtopping in the New Orleans area was observed and documented after Hurricane Katrina. Some levee reaches were undamaged and some were slightly eroded, while other portions were completely breached. The in situ jet index test method was applied along selected post-storm reconstructed levee reaches to assess levee fill erodibil-ity. Jet index testing was also conducted at three undamaged (un-eroded) levee surface locations. Pre-storm levee profiles (elevations) were compared to post-storm modeled storm water elevations to estimate overtopping depths at the test sites. Also, pre-storm levee profiles were compared to post-storm profiles to estimate erosion depths at the test sites. The jet index test results were integrated with pre-storm soil boring data (i.e., stratigraphy and soil classification), post-storm erosion depths, and overtopping depths to investigate soil surface erodibility relationships. The results showed the validity of using the jet index test method for levee soil erodibility assessments.

: Field jet erosion tests (JETs) were conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Developmen... more : Field jet erosion tests (JETs) were conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) to assess the erodibility of two enlargement segments within the Mississippi River Levee (MRL) Collocated Demonstration Section in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The first segment was constructed of Bonnet Carr clay with a fly-ash/bed-ash blend treatment, and the second segment was constructed of Bonnet Carr clay treated with lime. In addition, a section of untreated clay on the original levee was also tested. Overall, the field JET data showed that the clay treated with lime was categorized as resistant to very resistant. The fly-ash/bedash- treated clay was categorized as moderately resistant and resistant. When compared to the existing, untreated clay levee, both treatments reduced the erodibility of the soil. However, the field JET results showed that lime treatment performed better than the fly-ash/ bed-ash treatment.

Abstract : Existing bridge pier scour prediction equations exclude the influence of tree roots an... more Abstract : Existing bridge pier scour prediction equations exclude the influence of tree roots and the cross slope of levee embankments. Developed for specific conditions, these equations do not include modeling of scour at trees near or on levee embankments. Therefore, existing bridge pier scour models must be carefully evaluated and possibly modified before being applied to tree scour. The research conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) included review and evaluation of the Sheppard-Melville and the Federal Highway Administration Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 18 (FHWA HEC-18) bridge pier scour equations and validation flume experiments. The research objective was to provide guidance for predicting maximum scour depths near trees on or near levee embankments. The Sheppard-Melville and the HEC-18 methods of bridge pier scour prediction were evaluated. Results from the flume experiments indicate that both methods consistently over-predict scour depth by as much as 25 to 75 percent. Although other bridge scour equations can be used, both the Sheppard-Melville and the HEC-18 equations are sufficient in assessing tree scour potential to conservatively estimate maximum scour that may occur.

Overtopping is one of the major causes of dams and levees failure. There is uncertainty in estima... more Overtopping is one of the major causes of dams and levees failure. There is uncertainty in estimation of the erosion parameters especially for coarse- grained materials that comprise the outer shell layer of dams as well as homogenous levees that are constructed of such materials. In this paper, results from a box test performed on three coarse grained materials in a 0.3-meter wide flume are discussed. The three materials share the same median grain size D50 of 2 mm, however, they vary in fines content between zero to 20%. The box measured 0.3 m wide x 0.6 m long x 0.15 m deep. Each of the three materials was compacted in the box at near optimum moisture content and dry density as determined from standard Proctor test. Each material was tested at varying hydraulic loadings to determine the erosion rate after equal time intervals. The water depth and velocity were measured at each hydraulic loading using Pitot tubes and the acting bed shear was calculated. The effect of fines content...

The prediction of how an embankment dam or flood levee may erode, and ultimately breach, is funda... more The prediction of how an embankment dam or flood levee may erode, and ultimately breach, is fundamental to identifying and managing flood risk in partnership with cost effective asset management. Flood risk analyses, built upon levee and dam breach predictions, may underpin emergency action plans, critical infrastructure performance and land use planning. Research over the past decade or so combining large scale field testing, breach model development and validation has tended to focus on the performance of finer, cohesive materials with a reasonable understanding and prediction of head cut processes developing. However, not all dams and levees are constructed from the ideal grading of fine and cohesive materials, with some containing worrying amounts of coarser non cohesive material. This poster outlines research conducted by EDF, HR Wallingford, and the U.S. Army Engineer and Development Center (ERDC) that plans to investigate the erosion performance of coarser grained materials f...

To evaluate the potential influence of a tree on embankment stability, it is necessary to estimat... more To evaluate the potential influence of a tree on embankment stability, it is necessary to estimate the void that will occur in the embankment if the root system were to fail from storm loads. Currently, there is no published scientific literature focusing solely on this issue from an engineering perspective. This study reviewed existing research regarding windthrow pit dimensions for the purpose of developing a data set to estimate void dimensions. Twelve studies from which data regarding void dimensions could be obtained were found, resulting in a total of 676 data points. From these data, relationships that predict windthrow pit diameter and depth as a function of tree diameter were developed. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents.

This report summarizes the results of 42 laboratory Jet Erosion Tests performed on Plexiglas tube... more This report summarizes the results of 42 laboratory Jet Erosion Tests performed on Plexiglas tube samples obtained from the Lower American River (LAR) between River Mile (RM) 6.0 and RM 10.0. The results from these tests will be used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, in assessments of the erosion resistance of the LAR from increases in discharge from 115,000 cfs to 160,000 cfs from Folsom Dam. The test specimens were obtained from 22, 4-in.-diam Plexiglas tube samples. The variations in values of the measured erosion parameters may have been caused by variations in the materials for some of the tested samples (i.e., when the material changed from silt/sand to clay). However, the variations in results for many of the samples were due to changes in the quality of samples. The resulting values of Erodibility Coefficient, Kd, and Critical Stress, τc, are very useful information in assessing the erodibility of riverbanks as well as the river bed itself. Because of the observed natural variability of the materials, combining the erosion parameters presented in this report with the drilling logs and local geology will provide beneficial results for assessing the stability of the LAR. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents.

The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purpo... more The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents. DESTROY THIS REPORT WHEN NO LONGER NEEDED. DO NOT RETURN IT TO THE ORIGINATOR.

E3S Web of Conferences, 2016

Efforts are currently underway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to perform a risk asse... more Efforts are currently underway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to perform a risk assessment of all dams and levees within their portfolio. The vast majority of that portfolio is earthen structures. Findings from the assessments have shown that the major risk drivers for these earth structures are related to erosion (internal and external), overtopping, poorly designed and constructed intrusions (such as pipe crossings), and other factors to a lesser degree (such as burrowing animals). Therefore, the USACE is currently investigating several of these failure modes with emphasis on internal and external erosion. This paper will highlight efforts to investigate surface erosion, which may lead to breach formation and growth, by use of laboratory scale model testing to understand and properly capture the physics of the problem. These data are informing improvement and development of numeral methods for use in ongoing risk assessments.

Research for Policy and Practice, 2012

Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2018

This report summarizes the results of eight field Jet Erosion Tests (JETs) performed on Benbrook ... more This report summarizes the results of eight field Jet Erosion Tests (JETs) performed on Benbrook Dam, TX. The results from these tests will be used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, in assessments of the erosion resistance of the Benbrook Dam with regards to possible overtopping by extreme flooding. The JETs were performed at four different locations, i.e., two locations at the lowest crest elevation and two locations at the mid-slope face of the downstream embankment. Variations in estimated critical hydraulic shear stress and erosion rate values may have been caused by differences in soil composition, i.e., when the material changed from silt/sand to clay. The resulting values of the Erodibility Coefficient, Kd, and Critical Stress, τc, are very useful information in assessing the stability of Benbrook Dam during an overtopping event. Because of the observed natural variability of the materials, combining the erosion parameters presented in this report with...

Construction Research Congress 2016, 2016

E3S Web of Conferences, 2016

Sandbags have traditionally been the product of choice for temporary, barrier-type, flood-fightin... more Sandbags have traditionally been the product of choice for temporary, barrier-type, flood-fighting structures. However, sandbag structures are labor intensive and time consuming to construct and may not always be the best choice when selecting a flood-fighting barrier. To compare different barriers, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) developed a standard protocol to evaluate flood-fighting structures. Rapid Deployment Flood Wall (RDFW), Portadam, and Hesco Bastion were selected for testing based on technical merit from proposals submitted by companies that manufacture barrier-type, flood-fighting products. A standard sandbag structure was also tested. The evaluation included time, ease, and cost of construction, performance under hydrostatic and wave loading, overtopping, debris impact, possible repair, reuse, environmental impact, and cost. The results of the evaluation showed that the RDFW performed well but is more expensive than the other structures and also not easy to disassemble. The Portadam was efficient under hydraulic loading but did not test well in the debris impact tests. The Hesco levee performed well except for the amount of seepage that was observed. The Hesco levee was later retested after the company improved the product, and much less seepage was observed during the retest. The sandbag levee failed during the overtopping test. These results provide the flood-fighting community with results that will assist in the selection of the product that best fits their need.