Abstract
This paper presents a new set of 3D experiments aimed to gain insight on the role of the initial acceleration upon the generation process of tsunamis by submerged landslides that may occur at the flanks of conical islands. The
 experiments have been carried out in a large wave tank by varying the initial acceleration of the landslide model. A novel system, relying on the use of a computer controlled stepped motor, has been employed to control the motion of the landslide model. The experiments have been carried out in a parametric way by changing the initial acceleration of the landslide, aiming to reproduce dierent triggering mechanisms. Preliminary experimental findings confirmed the crucial role of the initial acceleration of the submerged landslide in generating tsunamis.
Highlights
MOVABLE STEEL FRAMELandslides (e.g. Watts, 1998; Grilli and Watts, 2003; Grilli and Watts, 2005; Enet et al, 2003; Liu et al, 2005; Lynett and Liu, 2005; Enet and Grilli, 2007)
Landslide-generated tsunamis tend to be local, extreme, phenomena
0.80 m landslides (e.g. Watts, 1998; Grilli and Watts, 2003; Grilli and Watts, 2005; Enet et al, 2003; Liu et al, 2005; Lynett and Liu, 2005; Enet and Grilli, 2007). It is worth noticing the work of Watts (1998) that, based on the theoretical analysis of solid block motion proposed by Pelinovsky and Poplavsky (1996) and by means of dimensional analysis and 2D physical experiments, provided both the analytical solution of the underwater motion of a solid block and a nondimensional wavemaker curve of tsunamis generated by submarine landslide as a function of the initial submergence, of the terminal velocity ut and of the initial acceleration a0 of the landslide
Summary
Landslides (e.g. Watts, 1998; Grilli and Watts, 2003; Grilli and Watts, 2005; Enet et al, 2003; Liu et al, 2005; Lynett and Liu, 2005; Enet and Grilli, 2007). The experiments aimed to measure the waves generated by the submerged landslide model if the initial acceleration a0 is varied. The displacement of the landslide was controlled by an electric motor that drives a system, placed in the inner part of the physical model of the conical island, that consists in a chain and two sprockets (Figure 2). In particular: (a) 12 run-up gauges were embedded directly into the PVC of the island flanks in order to measure the shoreline displacements time series; (b) 9 wave gauges were placed in fixed position near the generation area and in the far field; (c) 7 ultrasound sensors and 6 wave gauges were placed on the movable frame
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