July 16, 2009

Simpson Strong-Tie is participating in an unprecedented research event to highlight the importance of earthquake-resistant construction around the world. The test condominium tower, which weighs nearly a million pounds, was lifted onto Japan’s massive E-Defense (Earth-Defense) shake table, which simulates the ground motions of an earthquake.

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Wood building withstands major-earthquake shake test

Scientists conducted the world’s largest earthquake “shake table test” in Japan Tuesday, demonstrating that mid-rise wood-frame buildings can be built to withstand major earthquakes.

The 40-second test, approximating a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, was carried out on a seven-storey condominium tower with 23 units, the largest wood-frame building ever built and tested.

“Thorough, detailed analysis of the data won’t be available for weeks, but scientists are pleased with the initial results,” said John van de Lindt, the principal investigator on the test.

“Early results of the testing this summer show that the building performed so well and had so little damage that it validated the design.”

The U.S. building industry rarely permits wood-frame buildings in excess of five stories in earthquake-prone areas.

The data gathered from this test could lead to an increase in the height allowances on these buildings and influence the design of future wood-frame construction, researchers hope.

British Columbia might be particularly interested in the results of the test; the province enacted a new law April 1 that increases the height of wood-frame structures from four to six stories.

Researchers have spent the summer simulating earthquakes ranging from fairly frequent events expected every 70 years or so, to more powerful earthquakes that are only expected every 500 to 2,500 years, with magnitudes ranging from 6.7 to 7.5 on the Richter scale

The seismic testing, known as the NEESWood Capstone tests, is the culmination of a four-year $1.4 million project to develop a new design approach for taller wood-frame buildings in earthquake-prone areas.

The three-storey shake table is owned by Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of connectors, fasteners, fastening systems, anchors and lateral-force resisting systems.

– RCD Digital Media

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