STATIC CYCLIC LOADING TEST FOR EVALUATION OF SEISMIC CAPACITY OF TRADITIONAL HOUSE IN HIGASHI-MIKAWA

The objective of this study is to confirm the seismic capacity of a wooden house constructed with Japanese traditional structural method which is recognized less earthquake proof in the Building Standard Law today. In September 2004, horizontal loading experiment of a wooden house built in 1898 in Higashi-Mikawa region in Japan was conducted to investigate the seismic performance of such a house built with traditional structural method. The maximum load P_ was 106.6kN and the average deformation angle at P_ was about 1/10rad. The failure occurred at the joint of column and Sashi-Gamoi, when the average deformation angle was about 1/25rad. After bending failure of all columns occurred around P_, the house still kept the loading capacity more than 80% of P_. Total weight of the house was about 597kN which was examined by weighing members and parts of it after the loading test. The house concerned is much more anti-seismic than expected in the Law because the base shear coefficient at P_ was C_0=0.18.