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The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center test facility was configured specifically for innovative flood-fighting experiments by allowing levees to be constructed against two wall abutments with a 30-ft. opening between the 4 foot high walls. A geometric testing zone footprint was laid out on the concrete floor and all levees are required to be constructed within this given footprint. One side of the footprint abuts the concrete wall at a 90-deg angle, and the other side abuts the concrete wall at a 63-deg angle. The purpose for having two different angles is to simulate real-world geometric variability and demonstrate constructibility and geometric flexibility of each vendor’s product. Additionally, the unsymmetrical geometry allows wave loading variability during hydrodynamic testing, and causes an apparent current along the 63-deg wall.
Inside the test area (leeward side of the levee), an 8-ft. diameter by 8-ft.-deep circular pit was installed to catch any seepage or overflow water from the structure. Two 4-in.-diameter pumps were installed in the seepage pit to pump the accumulated water back into the wave basin. Two 12-in.-diameter pumps (12 in. intake and 10 in. output) were also installed to pump excess water out of the seepage pit when the capacity of the 4-in. pumps was exceeded.
The test area was instrumented with a series of lasers to measure any movement of the flood-fighting barrier, a laser to measure changes in water surface elevation within the seepage pit, and an additional laser to measure water surface elevation within the basin.
Evaluation of 4-Foot Muscle Wall Flood Fighting Barrier, US Army Engineer Research and
Development Center Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, Efrain Ramos-Santiago, Curtis Blades
and James D. Gutshall, May 2020.