Analysis of tsunami hazards by modelling tsunami wave effects

Tsunamis are an ever present risk to coastlines around the world, but many aspects of tsunami behaviour are unclear or little understood, so require significant further investigation. This paper presents the development of a new physical modelling facility to model and study scaled tsunami waves, and their effects, in a 2-D flume. The concept design of the new facility is explained and the preparatory analysis that was performed to confirm the feasibility of the design. An explanation is given of the main causes of building damage when a tsunami strikes and several available methods for limiting that damage. Finally, the testing that is to be performed later in 2008, using the tsunami generator, is described and the future plans for the facility are set out.