The wave overtopping simulator was developed by Van der Meer with the idea that:
- wave overtopping is well-known from research,
- only the overtopping part of the waves is required,
- and that testing of dikes, levees and embankments can be best tested in situ.
Further tests have been performed for the Rijkswaterstaat, with Deltares leading the Consortium. Tests were performed in 2008 and 2009. A summary report of all test results from 2007 and 2008 is available for download. A summarizing paper, including the tests of 2009, can also be downloaded.
The simulator was in 2007 nominated for the "Vernufteling", the yearly price for best invention by an engineering company in the Netherlands.
In 2008 a Wave Overtopping Simulator has been designed for Vietnam (Water Resources University, Hanoi, in cooperation with Delft University of Technology). This Simulator has tested Vietnamese dikes in 2009 and 2010. Moreover, a three times innovative and larger Simulator has recently been designed for the USA, see the the 2011 papers at Coastal Structures 2011.
The following movies are available:
- Tests at Delfzijl (2007)
- Tests at Afsluitdijk (2009)
- Test 1 at Vechtdike (2010)
- Test 2 at Vechtdike with a tree (2010)
- Hydraulic measurements at Vechtdike (2010)
- Wave Overtopping Simulator in Vietnam
- US Simulator (Fox 8 News)
- US Simulator
- River dike in Belgium
The most recent innovation is the Wave Run-up Simulator. Waves break on the seaward site of a dike or levee and rush-up the slope. The upper part of the dike has often a grassed slope, like the landward slope which can be attacked by wave overtopping. The process of simulation of wave run-up has been described in Van der Meer (2009 - 7252 kB). A first video has been made:
