Understanding Flexibility Effects in the Interaction of Light-Frame Wood Structures with Wave Action
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 12
Abstract
Hurricane and tsunami events can generate extreme water flows in nearshore regions of the United States with catastrophic consequences to coastal structures. Field records have shown that light-frame wood structures exhibit high vulnerability to wave-induced forces due to their light construction characteristics, which feature flexible connections and slender pile foundation systems. Previous research has studied the behavior of these structures under wave action, but most studies used rigid body modeling, which is shown in this study to be insufficient for capturing the force demand on these structures. Using a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) framework, this research investigated the structural and soil flexibility effects in the interaction between elevated light-frame wood structures and water flows. Study variables included the flexibility of timber-to-timber connections, soil type, pile embedment, wavelength, and wave amplitude. The study concluded that structural and soil responses to water flows can introduce strong coupled motions. Neglecting this coupling effect may underestimate the force demand on the light-frame wood structures by more than 40%. Accounting for both structural and soil flexibilities is necessary to accurately quantify the wave force demand of these structures.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 12 • December 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 29, 2022
Accepted: Jul 13, 2023
Published online: Oct 12, 2023
Published in print: Dec 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Mar 12, 2024
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