D-Geo Flow
Piping is a failure mechanism for dikes and dams where, under the influence of groundwater flow, sand is displaced from granular layers in such a way that a hollow space (the 'pipe') is created that can progressively develop in the opposite direction of the groundwater flow. If the pipe is given enough time to further develop, it can grow completely towards the waterway and this can lead to the undermining and failure of the water barrier.
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Due to various changes in the safety assessment for piping in recent years, such as taking into account the length-effect, the transition to the flood probability approach, the removal of Bligh's rule, and adjustments in the Sellmeijer model, many more dikes do not meet the requirements. These developments have created a need for more advanced piping calculations.
To be able to assess such complex situations, D-Geo Flow has been developed. D-Geo Flow includes a Finite Element piping analysis, based on the Sellmeijer model, to be able to assess whether piping can occur given a specific water level progression.
In D-Geo Flow, it is possible to perform 2D groundwater flow calculations with layered, heterogeneous soil structure.
D-Geo Flow includes the following features:
- Calculation of 2D groundwater flow,
- The (modified) Sellmeijer rule for predicting the occurrence of piping,
- Ability to set up complex, multi-layered soil schematizations,
- Graphical and numerical presentation of groundwater calculation results and pipe development.
Technical specifications
- Minimal hardware requirements:
- 1 GHz Intel Pentium-processor or similar
- 2 GB RAM
- 500 MB free disk space
- Resolution of 1366 by 768 at a scale of 100%*
- Operating system:
- Windows 10 and Windows 11
- Older Windows versions are not supported, but it will most likely work if .NET 8 is installed. D-Geo Flow installs .NET on request if the current version is lower
* If the application does not fit your screen, it is likely that your display scale is set above 100%
How can I get D-Geo Flow?
Version 2024.02 is available via the download portal.
If you have input from the earlier prototype, we will still make it available. You can receive the prototype by sending us an email at: software@deltares.nl.