<p>This study investigates normalized bed shear stress and normalized bore height in tsunami bores propagating over smooth, wet-bed surfaces through controlled laboratory experiments. A spring-loaded vertical lift gate was employed to generate bores using three different initial reservoir depths. Depth-averaged velocity and local water depth were measured to estimate bed shear stress using the Saint–Venant momentum equation. Results show that both depth-averaged velocity and calculated bed shear stress increased with reservoir depth, indicating that larger bores transfer more energy and induce greater turbulence. However, normalized peak bed shear stress exhibited a nonlinear trend, with maximum values observed at moderate bore heights. Further analysis revealed that amplified surface oscillations and sustained turbulence in larger bores reduced post-peak hydrodynamic stability. Comparisons with existing datasets confirm the reliability of the experimental setup and highlight the influence of bore strength on near-bed flow behavior. The results provide new insights into how bore-induced bed shear stress functions under wet-bed conditions. This is useful for estimating tsunami forces, modeling sediment transport, and designing coastal infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of tsunamis.</p>