In this paper, a purely Lagrangian and meshless approach, the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method, was used to explore its ability to analyze the overtopping hydraulics and erosion of a levee strengthened by articulated concrete blocks (ACB) subjected to surge-only overflow. After the SPH model was calibrated with the full-scale experimental data, the impact of surge height on the overflow hydraulics was investigated. With a simplified erosion model, the erosion rate at the crest and landside-slope as a function of surge height above levee was obtained.

smoothed particle hydrodynamics method, articulated concrete block, levee, erosion, surge overflow.