Compartmentalisation dam

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A compartmentalisation dam is a dam that divides a body of water into two parts. A typical use of such a dam is the regulation of water levels separately in different sections of a basin. One application of a compartmentalisation dam is to facilitate closures of areas with multiple tidal inlets, such as in the case of the Delta Works. [1]

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Compartmentalisation dams employed as a watershed

Compartmentalisation dams have been deployed in scenarios where there is a significant disparity in water quality across different basins, where separation is used to address undesirable conditions. Such structures play a crucial role in water management by creating physical barriers between bodies of water with differing qualities. Noteworthy examples include the following compartmentalisation dams in the Netherlands:

Houtribdijk Houtribdijk vanuit de lucht.jpg
Houtribdijk

Role of compartmentalisation dams in Dutch closure projects

Illustration of a compartmentalisation dam requirement Separation dam and closure works.jpg
Illustration of a compartmentalisation dam requirement

In regions with tidal influences where closure dams are essential and multiple tidal inlets are present, the establishment of a compartmentalisation dam becomes crucial. Without such a structure (represented by the dotted line), Dam A would require the basin to be entirely filled through sea inlet B. [6] [7] This scenario could lead to a significant increase in flow rate at the inlet, causing the channel to widen and deepen, thereby complicating or outright preventing closure. [2]

Constructing a compartmentalisation dam is notably easier in areas over a wantij, a Dutch term denoting a shallow part or tidal divide in a delta system where two tidal currents meet. At these junctures, the converging tides neutralise each other, creating an area with minimal current, facilitating easier dam construction despite the rapid movement of adjacent waters. [8] The wantij serves as a critical navigational feature, offering shelter from strong currents or presenting challenges for vessels with deeper drafts.

After the Storm Surge of 1953, it was decided to close the main inlets in the South-West of the Netherlands: the Oosterschelde, the Brouwershavenische Gat, and the Haringvliet. As these basins are connected to each other, and it is not possible to simply close them one-by-one, prior separation is required. [9] Some notable examples of compartmentalisation dams used to implement such separation as part of the Delta Works project in The Netherlands include: [10]

Map of compartmentalisation dams in the Netherlands DeltadammenEN.jpg
Map of compartmentalisation dams in the Netherlands

The Deltacommissie (English: Delta Commission), a governmental expert panel convened to advise on measures to avert disasters like the 1953 flood, described these structures as side dams (Dutch: nevendammen), rather than compartmentalisation dams. [11]

Following the completion of these dams, the original Delta Plan was adapted. Instead of constructing a closure at the Oosterschelde estuary, the plan was revised to include a storm surge barrier, the Oosterscheldekering. This shift affected the dams' intended functions. Initially, the Oosterschelde dam was to transform the area into a vast freshwater body, dubbed the Zeeland Lake, to ensure a tide-free route from Antwerp to Rotterdam. This would have involved lock complexes at both the Volkerakdam and Kreekrakdam.

Due to the non-completion of the Oosterschelde closure and the deferred decision to build a storm surge barrier, the Volkerak remained open, maintaining significant flow rates through the Zijpe channel. This persistent flow led to erosion, necessitating additional protective measures until the completion of the Oosterscheldekering. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Delta Works is a series of construction projects in the southwest of the Netherlands to protect a large area of land around the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta from the sea. Constructed between 1954 and 1997, the works consist of dams, sluices, locks, dykes, levees, and storm surge barriers located in the provinces of South Holland and Zeeland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Scheldt</span> Estuary in Zeeland, Netherlands

The Eastern Scheldt is a former estuary in the province of Zeeland, Netherlands, between Schouwen-Duiveland and Tholen on the north and Noord-Beveland and Zuid-Beveland on the south. It also features the largest national park in the Netherlands, founded in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goeree-Overflakkee</span> Island and Municipality in South Holland, Netherlands

Goeree-Overflakkee is the southernmost delta island of the province of South Holland, Netherlands. It is separated from Voorne-Putten and Hoeksche Waard by the Haringvliet, from the mainland of North Brabant by the Volkerak, and from Schouwen-Duiveland by Lake Grevelingen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haringvliet</span> Inlet of the North Sea

The Haringvliet is a large inlet of the North Sea, in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. It is an important estuary of the Rhine-Meuse delta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oosterscheldekering</span> Dutch storm surge barrier in the North Sea

The Oosterscheldekering, between the islands Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland, is the largest of the Delta Works, a series of dams and storm surge barriers, designed to protect the Netherlands from flooding from the North Sea. The construction of the Delta Works was a response to the widespread damage and loss of life in the North Sea flood of 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deltar</span> Analogue computer used in the Dutch Delta Works project

The Deltar was an analogue computer used in the design and execution of the Delta Works from 1960 to 1984. Originated by Johan van Veen, who also built the initial prototypes between 1944 and 1946, its development was continued by J.C. Schönfeld and C.M. Verhagen after van Veen's death in 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philipsdam</span> Hydraulic engineering structures in the Netherlands

The Philipsdam is a compartmentalisation dam constructed as part of the Delta Works in the Netherlands. It separates water of the lakes Krammer and Volkerak from the Oosterschelde, and connects the Grevelingendam to Sint Philipsland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johan van Veen</span> Dutch engineer (1893–1959)

Johan van Veen was a Dutch hydraulic engineer. He is considered the father of the Delta Works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oesterdam</span> Compartmentalisation dam in the Netherlands, part of the Delta Works

The Oesterdam is a compartmentalisation dam in The Netherlands, situated between Tholen and South Beveland in the eastern part of the Eastern Scheldt. The dam, with a length of 10.5 kilometres, is the longest structure built for the Delta Works. The Oesterdam was necessitated, like the Philipsdam, after the decision was taken to close off the Eastern Scheldt with a storm surge barrier, rather than a solid dam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Markiezaatskade</span> Dam in the Netherlands

The Markiezaatskade is a compartmentalisation dam in The Netherlands, situated between South Beveland and Molenplaat, near Bergen op Zoom. The dam was constructed as part of the Delta Works, and has a length of 4 kilometres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkerakdam</span> Hydraulic engineering structures in the Netherlands

The Volkerakdam or Volkerakwerken is the name given to a group of hydraulic engineering structures located between Goeree-Overflakkee and North Brabant in The Netherlands. The works are not a single dam, but are composed of three distinct structures: a dam between Goeree-Overflakkee and Hellegatsplein, a series of locks from Hellegatsplein to North Brabant, and a bridge from Hellegatsplein to Hoekse Waard. The works cross three separate bodies of water: the Haringvliet, Hollands Diep and Volkerak. The works together comprise the fifth project of the Delta Works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grevelingendam</span> Hydraulic engineering structures in the Netherlands

The Grevelingendam is a dam located in the Grevelingen sea inlet between Schouwen-Duiveland and Goeree-Overflakkee in The Netherlands. The Grevelingendam was the fourth structure constructed as part of the Delta Works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stormvloedkering Hollandse IJssel</span> Hydraulic engineering structure in the Netherlands

The Stormvloedkering Hollandse IJssel, Hollandse IJsselkering or Algerakering is a storm surge barrier located on the Hollandse IJssel, at the municipal boundary of Capelle aan den IJssel and Krimpen aan den IJssel, east of Rotterdam in The Netherlands. The construction of the works comprised the first project of the Delta Works, undertaken in response to the disastrous effects of the North Sea flood of 1953. Prior to 1954, the spelling Hollandsche was used in the official name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zandkreekdam</span> Hydraulic engineering structures in the Netherlands

The Zandkreekdam is a compartmentalisation dam located approximately 3 kilometres north of the city of Goes in The Netherlands, which connects Zuid-Beveland with Noord-Beveland, and separates the Oosterschelde from the Veerse Meer.

Jo Johannis Dronkers was a Dutch mathematician who is notable for the development of mathematical methods for the calculation of tides and tidal currents in estuaries. His work formed much of the mathematical basis for the design of the Delta Works. He attended the 1954 International Congress of Mathematicians in Amsterdam, where his work was discussed by David van Dantzig.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jo Thijsse</span> Dutch civil engineer

Johannes Theodoor Thijsse was a Dutch hydraulic engineer who made significant contributions to hydraulic engineering both in The Netherlands and internationally. In addition to having a major involvement in the design and planning of both the Zuiderzee Works and the Delta Works, he published widely and played a key role in the establishment of the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Spaargaren</span> Dutch civil engineer

Frank Spaargaren was a Dutch hydraulic engineer who was one of the main designers of the Oosterscheldekering and served as a director of the Waterloopkundig Laboratorium in Delft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pieter Philippus Jansen</span> Dutch civil engineer

Pieter Philippus Jansen was a Dutch civil engineer and hydraulic engineer who made significant contributions to hydraulic engineering in The Netherlands. He spent the majority of his career with Rijkswaterstaat, working on several major projects including the first phase of the Delta Works and leading the reclamation and repair efforts following the inundation of Walcheren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Agema</span> Dutch Hydraulic Engineer and professor of Civil Engineering

Jan Fokke Agema was a Dutch hydraulic engineer and professor at Delft University of Technology. He is notable for his design of the harbour entrance at Hoek van Holland and involvement in the construction of the Oosterscheldekering. The prof. dr.ir. J.F. Agemaprijs is named for him, and has been awarded every five years since 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Closure of tidal inlets</span>

In coastal and environmental engineering, the closure of tidal inlets entails the deliberate prevention of the entry of seawater into inland areas through the use of fill material and the construction of barriers. The aim of such closures is usually to safeguard inland regions from flooding, thereby protecting ecological integrity and reducing potential harm to human settlements and agricultural areas.

References

  1. Commission on Oosterschelde Compartmentalisation; Ferguson, H.A. (1975). Report on the Oosterschelde Compartmentalisation Committee. Rijkswaterstaat. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Stamhuis, E. (1997). Afsluitingstechnieken in de Nederlandse Delta: Een overzicht van de ontwikkeling van deze techniek [Closure techniques in the Dutch Delta: An overview of the development of the technique] (in Dutch). The Hague: Rijkswaterstaat. ISBN   9057301768 . Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 Saeijs, H. L. F.; de Jong, A. (1982). "The Oosterschelde and the protection of the environment". Ekistics. 49 (293): 150–156. ISSN   0013-2942 . Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  4. Walther, A.W. (1980). "Hydraulic Research in the Oosterschelde Estuary". Coastal Engineering. American Society of Civil Engineers: 2360–2376. doi:10.1061/9780872622647.141. ISBN   978-0-87262-264-7 . Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  5. Compartimenteringswerken [Compartmentalisation Works] (in Dutch). The Hague: Rijkswaterstaat. 1980. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  6. Maris, A.G.; De Blocq van Kuffeler, V.J.P.; Harmsen, W.J.H.; Jansen, P.P.; Nijhoff, G.P.; Thijsse, J.T.; Verloren van Themaat, R.; De vries, J.W.; Van der Wal, L.T. (1961). "Rapport Deltacommissie. Deel 1: Eindverslag en interimadviezen" [Report of The Delta Commission. Part 1: Final report and interim advice]. Deltacommissie (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  7. Huis in 't Veld, J. C.; Stuip, J.; Walther, A.W.; van Westen, J.M. (1987). The Closure of tidal basins: closing of estuaries, tidal inlets, and dike breaches (2nd ed.). Delft, the Netherlands: Delft University Press. ISBN   90-6275-287-X. OCLC   18039440 . Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  8. Watson, I.; Finkl, C. W. (1990). "State of the Art in Storm-Surge Protection: The Netherlands Delta Project". Journal of Coastal Research. 6 (3): 739–764. ISSN   0749-0208. JSTOR   4297737 . Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  9. Verhagen, H.J. (2016). Closure works. Delft: TU Delft . Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  10. Maris, A.G. (1963). Delta Commission Report: Final Report and Interim Recommendations: Part I. State Publishing. pp. Pdf 003, p. 127 onwards. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  11. van der Ham, W. (2003). Meester van de zee: Johan van Veen (1893 - 1959), waterstaatsingenieur[Master of the Sea: Johan van Veen (1893 - 1959), hydraulic engineer] (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Balans. ISBN   978-90-5018-595-0.
  12. "Rapport Deltacommissie (6 Parts. Part I: Final report and interim recommendations. Part II-IV: Considerations about storm surges and tidal movement. Part V: Investigations concerning the design of the Delta Plan and the consequences of the works. Part VI: Investigations of importance for the design of dikes and dams; socio-economic aspects of the Delta Plan.)" [Deltacommission Report] (in Dutch). Staatsdrukkerij- en Uitgeverijbedrijf. 1960–1961. Retrieved 24 September 2023 via TU Delft repository.