Comparative Performance of Steel Drainage Pipes Against Flood-Induced Deformation in River Levee

Steel drainage pipes that can provide both drainage and reinforcement functions are expected to give better performance in levee protection against flooding compared to the protection that can provide only either one of these functions. This study investigates the effectiveness of steel drainage pipes that combine the drainage and reinforcement functions against flooding in comparison with the pipes having only either drainage or reinforcement function through the finite element analysis validated by the simulation of the centrifuge model tests. The analysis results reveal that drainage function is crucial in minimization of deformation, while the use of steel drainage pipe protection is more reliable as protection is available in form of reinforcement even when drainage function has deteriorated. Levee protected only with reinforcement and only drainage pipes experienced 112% and 2.4% larger settlements respectively in comparison to levees protected with steel drainage pipes. The performance of a levee reinforced by steel drainage pipe against flooding is more redundant and reliable compared to the traditional method of protection which provides only one of the functions.