Vulnerability of power distribution utility poles to tsunami bore impacts

Abstract

Utility poles are a critical component of power distribution networks as they support overhead power lines and those in low-lying coastal areas are susceptible to damage from tsunami. Such damage could compromise the electricity supply to emergency facilities as well as to homes and businesses over large areas.

This article shares findings from a tsunami vulnerability analysis of common power distribution line utility poles, considering hydrodynamic wave-impact loading effects but neglecting debris impact and scour effects. The interaction between tsunami waves and utility poles was determined using scaled experiments, and this data used to validate numerical models. The models were then adapted to account for soil effects, and used to perform an incremental dynamic tsunami analysis on varying pole geometries and loading orientations at prototype scale.

The results from this work provide valuable insight into the response of power distribution poles subjected to tsunami attack and validates probabilistic tools capable of estimating damage based on expected tsunami inundation depths.