CFC 2025

Analysis of the Scouring Phenomenon Caused by Tsunami Effects Using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) Method

  • Rivera, Paulina (Universidad Austral de Chile)
  • Aránguiz, Rafael (U. Catolica de la Santisima Concepción)

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Coastal environments are frequently exposed to natural hazards, such as tsunamis, which pose substantial risks to human life and infrastructure. Traditional tsunami modeling methods often rely on solitary wave models, which inadequately capture the complex dynamics and impacts of tsunami-induced scour. This study addresses the need for more accurate modeling approaches that represent tsunami physics and their interactions with coastal structures. The primary objective is to analyze tsunami-induced scour around onshore square structures using a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) numerical model. To achieve this, an SPH model incorporating a rheological framework for viscoplastic fluids is implemented to simulate sediment dynamics. Experimental tests were conducted at the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción to validate the numerical results. Preliminary findings demonstrate that the SPH model effectively predicts maximum and equilibrium scour under more realistic tsunami wave conditions, providing a reliable tool for assessing tsunami-induced sediment transport and scour processes.