CENTRIFUGE MODEL TESTS ON BREAKWATER FOUNDATIONS WITH RESILIENT STRUCTURES AGAINST TSUNAMI OVERFLOWS

Abstract

 This paper discusses the experimental findings pertaining to a failure mechanism and the resilient structure of composite breakwaters brought by the instability of a foundation mound due to the seepage flow induced by a huge tsunami. Centrifuge tsunami testing using a drum channel was applied to reproducing the reduction of the bearing capacity of a mound under seepage flow leading up to the failure of the mound. It is important to place rubble on the back of a caisson for stability of the foundation mound against tsunami-induced seepage flow. The effects of the resiliency structure with the units packed gravels are also examined in the light of stability of a mound as well as a foundation bed under the seepage flow.