Tsunami-induced loads on coastal structures: experimental investigation and prediction
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Millar, Oliver
Ma, Li
Karmpadakis, Ioannis
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Tsunami events can have devastating impacts on coastal communities. In order to minimise fatalities and destruction of critical infrastructure, recent design codes provide methods for estimation of tsunami forces. However, loads are heavily dependent upon incident wave properties, and interaction with the surrounding structural arrangement. This study presents the results of an experimental investigation into the effect of wave condition and structural arrangement on loading. A new experimental apparatus is developed to enable simultaneous measurement of local loads on individual structures, and global forces on arrangements at city block scale. Wave breaking behaviour is varied through changing initial inundation. These results enable insight into the progression of wave loading through structural arrangements. The accuracy of loading predictions from design codes and a new momentum-flux method is investigated. These are implemented using kinematics and free surface inputs from SWASH and OpenFOAM simulations. Their validity is assessed through comparison to the laboratory results. Design code estimates using a drag formulation and the momentum-flux model satisfactorily recreate experimental measurements when provided with appropriately modelled wave inputs from OpenFOAM. The momentum-flux approach, which requires no empirical inputs, is shown to be more robust, demonstrating its potential for estimation of tsunami loads on coastal infrastructure.
Date Issued
2025-09-01
Date Acceptance
2025-06-01
Citation
Ocean Engineering, 2025, 336
ISSN
0029-8018
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal / Book Title
Ocean Engineering
Volume
336
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.121762
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
121762
Date Publish Online
2025-06-14