Ambient Vibration Measurements and Seismic Evaluation of Historical Japanese-style Wooden Offices in Taiwan

Abstract

In order to conserve or reuse historic buildings in Taiwan which are located in an earthquake-prone area, it is critical to ensure their seismic capacity. The historical Japanese-style wooden houses are those of concern in this study. Three historical offices of this kind which were damaged in the 2010 Kaohsiung earthquake were selected. First, ambient vibration measurements were taken to investigate their natural frequency and vibration mode. Performance-based assessment for wooden buildings in Japan was adopted and modified to evaluate the seismic capacity of the offices. By comparing the evaluation results and the damage observed in the earthquake, applicability of the method was verified. Accordingly, a seismic evaluation method for the Japanese-style wooden buildings in Taiwan was established. In addition, the relationship between measured natural frequency and calculated base shear coefficient was investigated and compared to the empirical formula for wooden houses in Japan.

Toward Nearly Zero-Waste Architecture: Innovation, Application, and Practice of Construction Methods Using Natural Materials

“…In recent years, in response to the sustainability issue of building materials, bamboo has become the first choice of building material due to its renewability and superior performance as a structural material [78]. The material testing of bamboo with pozzolana walls has also been verified by academic institutions, and they are considered to have positive benefits for the environment [82][83][84][85][86][87][88].…”

Post-Handover Housing Quality Management and Standards in Korea

“…The quality of housing can also be expressed in lyrical or abstract terms, such as safe and comfortable housing [3] and houses suitable for living [4]. If one emphasizes a more realistic aspect, seismic resistance is the most important quality indicator for housing in earthquake-prone countries such as Taiwan and Japan [5]. For the residents of Frankfurt, housing with stepless accessibility to the building is essential, and this difference in quality even affects housing prices [6].…”