Behavior of Breakaway Walls Under Wave Action

In coastal areas residential houses are often built on piles. The space below the first floor and the ground is sometimes enclosed. The enclosure walls are constructed to break away under severe wave-induced forces so that the forces transmitted through the breakaway walls to the building's foundation are not unduly large. Successful design of a breakaway wall therefore depends critically on knowledge of the ultimate strength of nailed fasteners and wall material and of the behavior of breakaway wall under wave-induced forces. In this research, laboratory tests were performed to determine the ultimate strength of nailed connections. Behavior and failure modes of breakaway walls from water waves were studied analytically and in a series of laboratory wave channel tests.