In a tsunami, devastation is created by far more than the wave itself. Debris that hits homes and other structures plays a huge role in a tsunami’s destructive power. But until now, engineers could only estimate the forces at work when debris, such as a floating telephone pole, hits a house. With support from the National Science Foundation, engineers from across the country have teamed up to design and carry out a series of large-scale tests aimed at better understanding exactly what happens when debris strikes. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
