Effects of Floating States on Collision Forces of Drifting Containers Caused by Solitary Wave Inundation

Abstract

The overtopping-inundation process of a tsunami results in the collisions of drifting objects on the coast, which damage structures, thereby increasing the risk of collapse. This study conducted laboratory experiments on the collision between a drifting container caused by the overtopping-inundation process of a solitary wave and a fixed port crane’s leg. The movement trajectory and velocity of the container as well as the collision velocity by solitary wave inundation, were analyzed using motion analysis software. Overall, increasing solitary wave scale, collision velocity, and drifting object weight and decreased distance between the two objects tended to increase the collision force. However, different experiment results were also obtained due to pitching in objects that fully floated without bottom friction owing to the solitary wave bore. This resulted in line-to-surface collisions. Thus, surface-to-surface contact occurred under the incomplete floating condition owing to the difficulty because of interference with the bottom; however, the collision force decreased under complete floating conditions owing to line-to-surface contact. Therefore, the contact condition according to the floating behavior must be considered a parameter while predicting the collision forces of drifting objects. Thus, surface-to-surface contact occurred under the incomplete floating condition owing to the difficulty because of interference with the bottom; however, the collision force decreased under complete floating conditions owing to line-to-surface contact. Therefore, the contact condition according to the floating behavior must be considered a parameter while predicting the collision forces of drifting objects.