Damage to storage tanks in large industrial complexes can lead to a spill of gas or oil. In order to prevent damage to storage tanks, tsunami wave load acting on model cylindrical storage tanks are measured. The measured results show that the buoyancy is predominant in the vertical component of the tsunami wave load. The measured horizontal component of the tsunami wave load is compared with the wave load calculated by equations including a term representing velocity.
A massive tsunami struck the northeastern coast of Japan in 2011. The tsunami caused serious damage to large industrial complexes facing the sea. Damage to storage tanks in large industrial complexes can lead to a spill of gas or oil, which is one of the main causes of fires. Fires in large industrial complexes can last long and spread out surrounding areas because a large amount of gas and oil is stored.
A huge tsunami generated at Nankai trough located south of Japan is predicted to strike Japan in the near future. The Nankai trough tsunami will strike large industrial complexes in Japan. Therefore, we need to take countermeasures against tsunami striking in large industrial complexes. In order to prevent damage to storage tanks in large industrial complexes, tsunami wave loads acting on them have to be investigated and estimated. Tsunami wave loads acting on structures on land have been conducted, e.g., Asakura et al. (2002), Arnason et al. (2009), Fire and Disaster Management Agency of Japan (FDMA) (2009), Nouri et al. (2010), Arimitsu et al. (2012) and so on.
In this study, tsunami wave loads acting on model storage tanks were measured in a wave basin experiment. From the measured tsunami wave load, the characteristics and the estimation of the tsunami wave load acting on the tanks were discussed.
