The way in which a flood embankment might fail, or breach, directly affects the timing and volume of flood water that might be released. Consequently, breach initiation and growth processes have a significant role in determining subsequent flood impacts.  It is therefore very important to understand and be able to predict these processes.

The key objectives of this task were to improve the understanding of breach initiation and growth.  This was achieved through experimental research and development of numerical models based upon the new experimental results, as well as the results of other research initiatives and by the inclusion of knowledge generated, for example, under Task 4 (Understanding and predicting failure modes).

Various terms are used in different countries when referring to flood embankments. These can include dike, dyke and levee.  These are considered here to be one and the same. This research work is applicable to both flood embankments and embankment dams.

Key words are:
Flood embankment; embankment dam; breach; breach modelling; breach initiation; breach growth; wave overtopping