Physical Model Test of Tsunami Wave Force on a Refuge Facility Protected with Fender Piles

Abstract

Refuge facilities are required to save human life from a tsunami. Fender piles around a refuge facility could be a countermeasure to protect the facility from tsunami driftage. Hydraulic physical model tests were conducted to investigate tsunami wave force on a refuge facility with fender piles. Although it was found that fender piles had potential of wave force reduction, it was strongly depended on a tsunami wave profile. Visibility of a refuge facility should be high for evacuees. But there is a possibility that fender piles could bring it to deterioration. So, relationship between the layout of fender piles and the visibility was studied qualitatively. It was deduced that straight layout of fender piles would give safety feeling to refugees in a refuge facility and staggered layout would provide it to evacuee approaching toward a refuge facility.