Glass water defence passes test in Delta Flume

Innovative design

During the test, the glass was struck with an 800-kg tree trunk at a speed of 3 metres a second. The aim was to simulate the impact of floating objects such as branches and tree trunks that may fall into the Meuse river. The impact of the tree trunk did not break any of the six layers of glass. The glass was therefore broken manually layer by layer, and on each occasion struck with the tree trunk again.

Even after all the layers had been broken by hand, the water defence still worked thanks to the innovative construction of six layers of glass with sheeting in a steel frame. On the basis of the results of the tests, it can be concluded that the glass and frames are strong enough to withstand the design load.

Alliance

The water defence was developed by contractor consortium MaaSamen, an alliance of the companies Van den Biggelaar, Boskalis and Wetering, on behalf of the Limburg Water Authority. The use of glass windows means that people still have a view of the Meuse while being protected by the water defence.

This defence is a wonderful example of how innovation, technology and aesthetics can come together in water management

Nova Huppes, projectleider Deltares

Sustainable and visually appealing

Rising water levels due to climate change increasingly require dyke upgrades. Instead of making the dikes wider or higher, a glass water defence of the kind to be used in Belfeld is a sustainable and visually appealing solution. It does not block the view for local residents.

Belfeld: picturesque and impressive view

Belfeld is a picturesque village on the Meuse in Limburg and it is known for its quiet, rural atmosphere and the impressive view of the river. The Meuse plays an important role in the day-to-day lives of the local people: it provides leisure opportunities but it also brings risks, especially when water levels are high.

Work on the construction of the glass barrier has now started, with completion expected early next year. The glass defence will be 57 m long in total (in three sections of 30 m, 15 m and 12 m) and 1.32 m high.

Nova Huppes, Deltares project manager: “I am very proud that I could contribute to testing this innovative structure that will not only keep the region safe but also preserve the unique landscape of the Meuse area. This defence is a wonderful example of how innovation, technology and aesthetics can come together in water management”.

Unique test facility

The Deltares Delta Flume is a test facility for conducting full-scale studies (1:1 or very close) of how extreme waves affect dikes, dunes, breakwaters and other water defences. There is high demand worldwide for the realistic testing of hydraulic engineering structures in specific situations. This is a versatile, indispensable facility that can be used for numerous projects: coastal, port and offshore structures.

Video

Watch the video for a behind the scenes glimpse of the experiment.