Performance Evaluation of Hydroplane Tsunami Barrier by Means of Small Hydraulic Model Experiments

Abstract

This study aim to evaluate the fundamental performance of the Hydroplane Tsunami Barrier by using the 1/200 scale hydraulic model. The Hydroplane Tsunami Barrier is a kind of movable breakwater. The main body is fixed to the pedestal by the special rubber belt, and it rises by hydraulic force due to tsunami and storm surge. The effectiveness of this breakwater for tsunami countermeasures is indicated through experiments of response characteristics for hydraulic force, wave force acting on the main body and the damping effect for wave height. As a result, it is revealed that water pressure acting by the maximum wave height is larger than the impact force due to the rotation of the main body. It was confirmed that the damping effect increases with the height of the tsunami.