A fully coupled hydrodynamic-DEM model for simulating debris dynamics and impact forces

Many post-event field investigations suggest that dramatic flood hydrodynamics and impact of large floating objects contribute significantly to building damage during a tsunami event. However, the interactions between transient waves, debris, structures have neither been well explored nor understood, few modelling tools developed simulate these complex interactive processes, especially when multiple debris are involved. This paper introduces novel fully coupled system, based on high-performance 2D hydrodynamic model 3D discrete element method (DEM) model, for simulating movement carried along by highly convective flows directly quantifying induced forces structures. The proposed is applied reproduce series physical experiments, results agree with experimental measurements. It demonstrated newly system can capture interaction fluid, different shapes sizes structures, making it suitable real-world applications. provides new robust tool extreme hazards caused tsunamis or flash flooding assessing their risk, therefore has potential be useful planning designing disaster risk reduction schemes in those at-risk areas. • A transported waves. MSM implemented represent shapes. approach estimate reliably predicts occurring time magnitude peak forces.