Graduation of Sam Dijkstra

The maximum influence of wind on wave overtopping at mildly sloping dikes with a crest element

• Professor of graduation: Prof. dr. ir. M.R.A. van Gent

• Supervisors: Dr. ir. D. Wüthrich (TU Delft),  Dr. dipl.-ing. G. Wolters (Deltares)

Due to the rising sea level in combination with land subsidence there is a need to reinforce the dikes. The use of a crest element to increase the height of the dike is an effective and relatively cheap way to reinforce the dikes (Hogeveen, 2021). When a crest element is used, the jet generated by wave breaking on the dike slope impacts on the crest element, leading to an upward spraying motion of the water. This upward sprayed water can potentially be transported by the wind over the crest element and therefore contribute to the wave overtopping discharge. Small scale physical model tests were performed on a smooth dike slope of 1:6 to gain more knowledge about this influence of the wind on wave overtopping. Studying the influence of the height of the crest element, a promenade in front of the crest element and the slope of the dike was part of the research.