The Objective: Safeguarding the Waterfront
The mission was clear: validate the resilience of Navy waterfront infrastructure against the devastating forces of a tsunami. Dr. Ming Liu and Nate Lemme of EXWC’s Shore Technical Department had a singular focus – taking computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models and updating the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) based on the findings.
Their destination was the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory at Oregon State University, a coastal engineering research and education center that can simulate the raw power of the ocean at scale.
For the Navy, piers aren't just timber, concrete and steel; they are the lifelines of the fleet, and understanding their response to tsunamis is essential for national security.
EXWC’s Commitment to Supporting Fleet and Warfighter
At the lab, Dr. Liu and Lemme observed how tsunamic waves interacted with piers. Based on the real-time testing results, Dr. Liu and Lemme guided the updates to the lab testing procedure and schedule.
The testing data will be used to develop performance-based resilience planning, to ensure every Navy pier is built to survive extreme events.
The Experiment: The Generic Pier vs. The Wall of Water
The centerpiece of the mission was the testing of a generic pier model within the lab’s massive wave basin.
As the pistons began to move, pushing thousands of gallons of water into a simulated tsunami surge, Dr. Liu and Lemme monitored a sophisticated array of sensors that weren't just looking at wave heights – they were examining the response of the pier.
Mission Accomplished: Data Driven Readiness
Dr. Liu and Lemme will use the testing data to refine the next generation of Navy design and construction standards. Through their commitment in collecting data on blast loads and seismic resilience to the physical realities of wave impact, these engineers are ensuring the Navy’s piers continue to remain strong, as those critical lifelines for the Fleet and warfighter.