A Heterarchical Model for Soil Erosion from Internal Flow to Global Failure (ARC Discovery Project administered by The University of Sydney) (2025-2028)

This project will develop a new approach to understand soil erosion in earth dams, from internal mechanisms to large-scale failures. It fills a significant gap in existing models, which cannot fully represent the complex, multiscale processes of internal erosion. This approach combines detailed laboratory and field experiments with sophisticated computational modelling. It will create a reliable tool for predicting and mitigating dam failures, improving safety, resource management, and sustainability in water infrastructure. The escalating climate crisis and the imperative for the energy transition have triggered an unprecedented surge in global dam construction, and this model will help reduce the risks of these structures.