2018 Volume 24 Pages 493-498
Climate change increases the frequency of torrential rains and drowning accident frequently occurs. Therefore, it is very important to study the hydrodynamic force exerted on the human body in flood water. In this study, two kinds of the flume experiments were conducted using a small-scale model of the human body (1/10 scale). First, we measured the drag force exerted on the human body in flood water. The experiment data showed that the drag force exerted on the human body in a sitting position is 2-3 times larger than that in a standing position. Second, we measured the flow velocity around the human body by using the electromagnetic current meter. The results revealed that the drag force exerted on the human body increases due to the clothing. The results can be used as primary assessment to define the drowning risk in a river or a channel after torrential rain.
