Seismic Testing of a Full-Scale Two-Story Light-Frame Wood Building: NEESWood Benchmark Test

摘要

This report is the first in a series of reports resulting from the NEESWood Project. It documents the benchmark shake table test program of a full-scale two-story wood frame townhouse building. The experimental program focused on the various construction elements that could significantly influence the seismic response of these types of buildings. The testing was divided into five phases: (1) engineered wood structural (shear) walls alone; (2) wood structural walls incorporating viscous fluid dampers; (3) installation of gypsum wallboard to engineered wood structural walls; (4) installation of gypsum wallboard to interior partition walls and ceilings; and (5) installation of stucco as exterior wall finish. Two kinds of tri-axial historical ground motions were used for the tests: a Design Basis Earthquake (DBE) with a probability of exceedance of 10% in 50 years, or a return period of 475 years; and a Maximum Credible Earthquake (MCE) with a probability of exceedance of 2% in 50 years, or a return period of 2,475 years. This report provides a detailed analysis of the experimental results of test phases 1, 3, 4 and 5. The test results show that the installation of gypsum wallboard to the interior surfaces of the structural walls substantially improved the seismic response of the test structure. The application of exterior stucco provided further improvements, particularly in the longitudinal direction, where the shear response of the wall piers dominated. The results of test phase 2 are documented in a companion report.