Inundation flow velocity of tsunami on land

An estimation of tsunami inundation flow velocity is one of the most challenging issues among tsunami research. Based on field data of inundation depth and inundation flow velocity u estimated using Bernoulli's theorem and inundation depth, fundamental characteristics of the relationship between inundation flow velocity and inundation depth are examined. Fundamental characteristics of the velocity coefficient where g is gravitational acceleration, hf and hr are inundation depths at the front and the back of structures such as a rectangular building with vertical walls, respectively) implicitly included in the relationship are examined through hydraulic experiments. As a result, Cv = 0.6 is recommended as its simple and practical value. It is confirmed through these examinations that the Froude number, defined by where , ranges 0.7–2.0, and when Cv = 0.6 is adopted this Froude number ranges 0.42–1.2. By using the relationship and Cv = 0.6, two simple and practical relationships are presented for two cases where inundation flow velocity exerts the largest or the smallest fluid force on structures. These relationships can be used to roughly grasp the practical side of tsunami damage, and estimate fluid force acting on individual structures, moving velocity and collision force of floating objects and sediment transport such as boulder and sand. Fundamental characteristics of the waterline (tsunami trace) distribution around/on the typical object model (square pillar, corn and column) are also examined through steady flow experiments, and it is confirmed that the maximum and the minimum values of hf/h0 in the full type model of the square pillar are almost the same as those of hf/hr obtained by field surveys where h0 is uniform flow depth. It is also confirmed that hr ≅ h0 when the Froude number, defined by where u0 is uniform flow velocity, is much less than 1.0. Using a newly defined velocity coefficient, tsunami inundation flow velocity on land can be estimated practically and would be useful for checking proposed sediment transport models that are now being developed by tsunami geologists.