Earthquake - supercomputing and scale modeling the effect of flotsam mixed tsunami: Implications for tsunami generated by the 2011 great east coast earthquake

The behavior of flotsam mixed tsunami is investigated by a new type of integrated super computation using arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian method (ALE method) and smoothed particle hydrodynamics method (SPH method). The fully hydrodynamic governing equations without shallow-water theory were used to calculate tsunami characteristics of water flow with flotsam and debris. Our ALE model predicted the effect of fluid–solid coupled interaction in a limited region, and the model predictions were favorably compared with the scale modeling analysis. This study, our first attempt to simulate the degree of damage caused by the flotsam mixed tsunami, can help optimize the strength of seashore buildings and structures against future tsunami threats. This study also can help estimate structural damage that can be caused by large-scale natural disasters, like hurricanes, storms, and tornados, and help to develop effective mitigation tools and systems.