V.M. van Bergeijk MSc (Vera)

I started with my bachelor Physics at Utrecht University in 2012 and continued with a master in Meteorology, Physical Oceanography and Climate in 2015 in Utrecht as well. My master research project involved the modelling of the sand transport at Vejers beach in Demark. I obtained my master degree in September 2017 and started in October 2017 with my PhD at the University of Twente in the Water Engineering and Management group.

Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET), Marine and Fluvial Systems (WEM)

This PhD project focusses on the modelling of wave overtopping erosion for flood defence reliability. During storms, waves overtop the dikes and cause erosion on the landward side of the dike. The erosion due to wave overtopping can lead to a dike breach. For this reason, it is important to determine the probability of dike failure due to wave overtopping. However, there is still a lot unknown about the wave overtopping process and its erosional effects.

The goal of the project is to gain better understanding of the wave overtopping flow and the erosion due to wave overtopping. In this project, an idealized wave model and a detailed hydrodynamic model will be developed to simulate the overtopping flow over the dike crest and the landward slope. These models will be coupled to an erosion model for the dike cover to investigate the erosional effects due to wave overtopping. This project focusses on the influence of transitions in dike cover and dike geometry on the overtopping flow and the overtopping erosion.