Estimation of Tsunami Force Acting on Rectangular Structures

Abstract

Hydraulic experiments were conducted to estimate tsunami wave force acting on rectangular onshore structures. Used building models placed at several distances from a shoreline. Wave pressure was measured at points on exposed structures. Impact and standing-wave pressure at different points peaked at different moments in time, so tsunami force tended to be overestimated by integrating maximum wave-pressure distribution envelope. Measured total force was thus used to formulate tsunami force estimation equations. Hydrostatic formula was successful for structures near a shoreline, despite large scattering for structures far from a shoreline. Hydrodynamic formula was successful in all cases, although inertia was considerable for structures near a shoreline.