Experimental Seismic Response of a Japanese Conventional Wooden House Using 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Records

Abstract

Immediately after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake series, a detailed damage assessment of more than 2,500 wooden houses was conducted at Mashiki Town, Kumamoto. Severe structural and nonstructural components damages were observed for buildings designed after the 2000 building standard law. Results of the field investigation were used to identify vulnerable building type, and in October 2017, a full-scale, two-story, Japanese conventional post and beam wood townhouse was tested under the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake series recorded at the KiK-net station. A triaxial shake table testing facility located in Miki City, Japan, was used. The tested building survived the foreshock and mainshock of the Kumamoto earthquake, and the extent of damage reasonably agreed with the result of the survey around the KiK-net station. Results of the experimental tests will help designers and decision makers to understand the seismic response and damage of the test building and come up with mitigation alternatives.