Consideration of the vertical load from a tsunami on bridge structures

Abstract

A significant part of the territory of the Russian Federation is exposed to various natural
 disasters. One of the most destructive are tsunami waves. At the same time, for the development of these
 territories, there is a need for the development of transport infrastructure, which implies, among other
 things, the design of bridges. To ensure the reliability of bridges in the event of tsunami, it is necessary to
 fully take into account the possible impacts from these waves. In Russia, there is a document to determine
 the load from the tsunami. But, despite the existence of this document, the issue of taking into account the
 loads from the tsunami on various structures remains relevant. In particular, there are no clear guidelines
 for accounting for vertical loads from tsunami waves on bridge structures. With the help of the studies
 carried out on computer modelling of the wave roll-up on the bridge structure, this article proves the need
 to take into account the vertical loads from the tsunami, and also proposes a method for determining its
 numerical values. This study can complement the basic methodology for determining the loads from
 tsunami waves on bridge structures and help designers fully account for this dangerous natural disaster.