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The applicability of the Sellmeijer design rule to Limburg dike sections near Well, Hout-Blerick, Buggenum, and Thorn was investigated in this thesis. This was accomplished by building a finite element numerical model, in COMSOL Multiphysics, to assess the piping in the hydrogeological systems of the research locations. The proposed model is composed by combining several groundwater and piping model principles, schematizing dike cross-sections, and calibrating the model. The schematization choices that define the model geometry of the average pipe cross-section are critical. It was decided to apply a fracture flow pipe cross-section and the piping assessment was performed iteratively for multiple pipe height values, because the true pipe height is unknown. The pipe height is expressed as a function of the number of grains and the representative grain size. According to a deterministic assessment, which was performed analytically using multiple versions of the Sellmeijer design rule and numerically using the proposed FEM model, piping does not occur at the research locations Well, Hout-Blerick and Thorn. Piping is theoretically possible at Buggenum, but only with a very small pipe height, making it appear very unlikely. The assessment also revealed that the critical head determined by using revised Sellmeijer design rule (2021) is conservative for the examined dike sections in Limburg. Furthermore, it is discovered that the original Sellmeijer design rule with the new geometry factor (1988/2011) produces critical heads that are similar to the results of the revised Sellmeijer design rule (2021) multiplied by 1.8, which is the current design rule used to assess piping in Limburg. The Sellmeijer design rule (1988/2011) was stochastically evaluated to determine how the design rule changed when calibrated to Limburg parameter values. 1000 unique randomly generated dike cross-sections were evaluated on piping using the proposed FEM numerical models. Th, Civil Engineering | Hydraulic Engineering

Fieldwork Hydraulic Engineering’ is a course given at Delft University of Technology for the MSc Hydraulic Engineering. In collaboration with local experts Boyan Savov and Traian Marin, a team of 8 students guided by Mark Voorendt was sent to investigate the local conditions at Asparuhovo beach in Varna, Bulgaria, for purely educational purposes. Before 2019, Asparuhovo beach used to have a stable coastline with some seasonal variations. However in 2019, the Karantinata port was constructed and disturbed the equilibrium state of the beach. Rapid sedimentation occurred near the port and the port entrance. Due to this excessive sedimentation near the port entrance, the fishing port has lost almost all of its intended functionality, as minimum water depths in the port entrance approach 0.3m. The port was originally designed for larger fishing boats, which are currently not able to enter and making the port lose functionality. It is yet unknown how this sedimentation trend is formed with the construction of the fishing port. The main objective of the research was to examine the current sedimentation near Karantinata port by executing a measuring campaign during the Hydraulic Fieldwork and by setting up a 5 year monitoring program for the marine environment. By doing so, the processes which lead to sedimentation can be understood and a model can be made. With this model, adjustments to the port layout can be examined which are potentially needed for the port to operate at full functionality. To tackle these problems, the students performed the fieldwork. With 2 days of beach and foreshore measurements the research question was assessed. With the acquired data of the system, supported by additional lab sieving analysis, data processing and modelling in Delft, the students formed theories on the origin of the sedimentation problem. With these insights, recommendations for the area can be suggested. The measurements are performed on multiple locations and at each location m, CIE5318, Civil Engineering | Hydraulic Engineering