Tsunami evolution and run-up in a large scale experimental facility

Abstract

In this paper, we study the propagation and run-up of long tsunami-like waves in the 300m long Large Wave Flume (GWK), Hannover, Germany and analyze the feasibility of experiments on tsunami run-up in large facilities. This paper is the continuation of our previous paper (Schimmels et al., 2015, companion paper). The propagation of long period waves over large distances for different shapes is studied experimentally and numerically. Fully nonlinear potential flow theory has been used to model these cases numerically along with Korteweg–de Vries simulations. The theoretical explanation of the observed effects has been discussed. The run-up characteristics of the studied waves with respect to their shape and beach slope were also investigated. Further, a downscaled real tsunami time series is also reproduced experimentally and studied with regard to its possible run-up.