• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2017

The present study numerically investigated the influence of the waveform distribution on the tsunami-vegetation interaction using a non-reflected wave generation system for various tsunami waveforms in a two-dimensional numerical wave tank. First, it was possible to determine the wave attenuation mechanism due to the tsunami-vegetation interaction from the spatial waveform, flow field, vorticity field, and wave height distribution. The combination of fluid resistance in the vegetation and a large gap and creates a vortex according to the flow velocity difference in and out of the vegetation zone. Thus, the energy of a tsunami was increasingly reduced, resulting in a gradual reduction in wave height. Compared to existing approximation theories, the double volumetric ratio of the waveform increased the reflection coefficient of the tsunami-vegetation interaction by 34%, while decreasing the transfer coefficient and energy attenuation coefficient by 25% and 13%, respectively. Therefore, the hydraulic characteristics of a tsunami is highly likely to be underestimated if the solitary wave of the approximation theory is applied for the tsunami.