Takahiro Tsuchimoto

Collapsing process simulations of timber structures under dynamic loading III: numerical simulations of real-size wooden houses

In this study, we developed a new analysis method that enables numerical simulations of the collapse process of real-size wooden houses and evaluated the accuracy thereof by carrying out numerical simulations by shaking table tests. The distinct element method was adopted as the basic theory of our numerical analysis. This research is the first approach in which the extended distinct element method was used for Japanese timber post-and-beam construction. The size of the analysis model is a 5.5 m × 5.5 m, two-story real-size wooden house. The three analytical models were developed in terms of the strength of exterior mortar walls. The simulation results were compared with the shaking table test results. One of the collapsing processes of the numerical simulation corresponds well to the experiment results. Assessment of the possibility of collapse for real-size wooden houses was determined to be possible using our newly developed numerical analysis method.

Damage to Timber Buildings

The damage to timber buildings occurred over a wide swath from Tohoku down to northern Kanto. The cause of damage is divided either by ground motion or by tsunami. The damage due to ground motion is categorized by the main cause of damage, either the ground deformation including the liquefaction or the vibration of the superstructure.