InnKubaTubes – Innovative cubatures of dams and dikes using soil-filled geotextile tubes for improved flood protection
Key Data
Goal: Development of design rules for dikes made of soil-filled geotextile tubes
Method: Physical model tests
Duration: May 2019 to April 2022
Partner: 3
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Description and goals
In consideration of the EU climate goals, flood protection structures at waterways must be designed in a sustainable and resource-saving manner. This goal is pursued with the innovative design of dikes made of soil-filled geotextile tubes (topotubes). With Topotube dikes, steeper slopes can be realized, resulting in lower material and land consumption. Furthermore, due to the additional stability provided by the Topotubes, no dike breaching is expected in the event of overflow. For the implementation of the new construction method, there is currently no design approach available, that has to be developed within the InnKubaTubes project. The aim of the project is therefore to develop a design guideline for the Topotube dikes.
Within the project, the IWW carries out physical model tests to systematically investigate the tube dike behavior during seepage and overflow by extensive parameter variation. The physical model tests are implemented both within a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional test setup. The laboratory experiments lay the scientific basic knowledge for the resistance behavior of the tube dikes including the interaction of the tubes. The work supplements the real-scale field tests to be carried out by the Technical University of East Westphalia-Lippe. With the help of the combined physical model tests, it is to be demonstrated that the overall system meets the safety-relevant requirements despite the lower land and soil consumption.
The InnKubaTubes project won 4th place in the ERDF.Stars.Nordrhein-Westfalen 2022 project competition! (https://www.efre.nrw.de/news/aktuelle-veranstaltungen/projektwettbewerb-efrestarsnordrheinwestfalen-2022/).
Partners and funding
The following partners are involved in the research project:
- Topocare GmbH, Gütersloh
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Detmold
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, RWTH Aachen University
The InnKubaTubes project is funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with resources from the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE) 2014-2020 "Investments in Growth and Employment" through the LeitmarktAgentur.NRW Projektträger ETN. The funding number is EFRE-0801533.