Combined Failure Mechanism of a Breakwater Subject to Tsunami during 2011 East Japan Earthquake

In this study, a centrifuge model tests and effective stress analyses are performed on a breakwater subject to Tsunami such as those seriously damaged during 2011 East Japan Earthquake (Magnitude 9.0). The centrifuge model tests at a scale of 1/200 are performed to simulate the failure of a breakwater subject to Tsunami. With the effective stress analyses, this study demonstrates the importance of the mechanism of failure in the rubble mound due to seepage flow of pore water in addition to the force of Tsunami action.
Perspectives on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering