2024 Volume 80 Issue 13 Article ID: 23-13093
We studied seismic and tsunami countermeasure technology using cushioning materials for disaster prevention and mitigation of structures in coastal areas. Here, we focused on the tsunami countermeasures, and investigated the use of cushioning materials to reduce wave pressure and stresses on the structure. The effect of wave pressure reduction was examined by tsunami model experiments, and the influence of stress reduction was evaluated by three-dimensional FEM analysis. The results of the model experiments showed that the wave pressure acting on the structure can be reduced by placing a cushioning material on the surface of the structure, and that it is possible to change the vertical distribution shape of wave pressure. The results of the three-dimensional FEM analysis confirmed that the stresses generated within the structure varied greatly depending on not only the magnitude of wave pressure but also the vertical distribution shape of wave pressure. Therefore, it is important to accurately set the distribution shape as well as the magnitude of wave pressure in order to properly evaluate the safety of structures against tsunamis.
