Open AccessTsunami wave loading on coastal houses: a model approach
Author(s) -
Navaratnam I. Thusyanthan,
Spg Madabhushi
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
proceedings of the institution of civil engineers. civil engineering/proceedings of ice. civil engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1751-7672
pISSN - 0965-089X
DOI - 10.1680/cien.2008.161.2.77
Subject(s) - sri lanka , brick , seismology , tsunami wave , geology , civil engineering , environmental science , engineering , environmental planning , tanzania
The Asian tsunami of 26 December 2004 killed over 220 000 people and devastated coastal structures, including many thousands of traditional brick-built homes. This paper presents the results of model tests that compare the impact of a tsunami wave on a typical coastal house with that on a new ‘tsunami resistant’ design developed in the USA and now built in Sri Lanka. Digital images recorded during the test reveal how the tsunami wave passed through the new house design without damaging it, but severely damaged the typical coastal house. Pressure sensor results also provided further insight into tsunami wave loading, indicating that the established Japanese method significantly underestimates maximum impact load.