DAMAGE TO REINFORCED CONCRETE BUILDINGS AND COASTAL TREES DUE TO THE 2011 OFF THE PACIFIC COAST OF TOHOKU EARTHQUAKE TSUNAMI

Abstract

Macroscopic conditions of the damage to RC building and coastal black pine tree in the 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake Tsunami are discussed through field surveys and field tests. Effects of RC building's location and arrangement, submerged vertical section area in the tsunami inundation flow direction, ratio of the area of submerged windows and/or doorways to the area of submerged vertical wall on the side hit by the inundation flow (so-called, aperture ratio), and foundation piles on the damage condition of the building are examined. The damage condition of the coastal tree is also discussed from the viewpoints of the drag force and moment assessed using inundation flow velocity estimated by a simple method. Moreover, effects and limits of coastal woods on the tsunami energy and force reductions are illustrated through the field surveys.