Trial of an evaluation method of the building damage by Tsunami

Abstract

In order to develop a rational methodology to evaluate building damage caused by tsunamis, first, disaster data collected in Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Japan are introduced as verification data. Next, the applicability of an empirical method of predicting inundation depth (= the inundation height from ground level) based on analysis of those data and a numerical simulation method of tsunami flood is examined by comparing calculation values with the verification data. Then, the validity of a convenient method of evaluating building strength against the tsunami using the gate-type Rahmen Building Model is checked by comparing calculation results with actual damage and diagrams to get pillar widths or wall thicknesses at the breaking threshold for common sizes of buildings are proposed. © World Scientific Publishing Company.