Designing Coastal Structures for Tsunami Loads per ASCE 7-16

Abstract

Abstract The 2016 edition of ASCE 7, Minimum Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures, contains a brand new Chapter 6 on Tsunami Loads and Effects. This new chapter applies to the tsunami design of all Risk Category III (high occupancy) and IV (essential) buildings, and potentially many taller Risk Category II (regular) buildings, in coastal communities in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii. These provisions can also be applied to other communities exposed to tsunami hazard, including Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and communities outside the US. This paper shows an example of how the new tsunami design provisions would apply to the design of prototypical multi-story coastal reinforced concrete buildings at different locations on the US Pacific Coast. The prototypical Risk Category II buildings are located in Seaside OR, Monterey CA, Waikiki HI and Hilo HI. Economic consequences of including tsunami design for mid- to high-rise Risk Category II buildings are discussed.