Author(s): Joongu Kang

Linked Author(s): Joon-Gu Kang

Keywords: River levee; Flood; Eco-friendly material; Erosion; Hydraulic model experiment;

Abstract: River levees collapse due to floods caused by abnormal weather, resulting in huge damages to people, houses, roads, and vehicles. Traditionally, mixing materials such as cement have been used to increase the durability of levees and to strengthen their surfaces. However, such materials cause greenhouse gas emissions; therefore, the demand for eco-friendly and sustainable materials is ever increasing. This study has been conducted to improve the durability of levees using a new eco-friendly material, biopolymer to establish an erosion control plan for levees. Biopolymers produced by microorganisms are eco-friendly materials characterized by high tensile strength and human-friendliness that are currently being used across various industries. It has recently been revealed that biopolymers strengthen the mechanical properties of soil in the area of geological engineering; therefore, studies on them are actively underway. These new materials ought to be compared with cement from an economic perspective; furthermore, it is suggested that further research should be conducted to verify its applicability and durability in actual fields. Therefore, the Andong river experiment center evaluated the stability of a levee constructed with a new eco-friendly material through hydraulic model experiments by building a semi-prototype. By applying an image analysis technique, we qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed the collapse mechanism and collapse-delay effect of levees reinforced with the new material. We also applied the Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) technique to analyze the effect of flow velocity on collapse development of the levee cross and slope sections. Experimental results showed that the levee constructed with the new material has a significant collapse delay effect compared to an earthen levee, when overflow occurs. In the near future, we are going to conduct overflow and penetration experiments through virtual flooding in the real-scale levee channel to evaluate the performance of the levee constructed from new eco-friendly material.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/38WC092019-1656

Year: 2019