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April 2, 2009

Tall wood building faces Godzilla-size shake test

  • U.S. researchers say shake testing in Japan this summer could change guidelines for mid-rise wood-frame construction in seismic areas.
    • By SHAWNA GAMACHE
    Journal Staff Reporter

    Photo by John van de Lindt [enlarge]
    Construction is under way in Japan on the largest building ever tested on an earthquake shake table. Steel plates, each weighing 1.8 tons, were installed recently on the second story of the wood-frame building. There will be eight plates on each of the building’s seven floors.

    THERE'S A LOT we don't know about how mid-rise wood-frame buildings behave during earthquakes, but a group of researchers hopes to change that this summer. Construction is under way near Kobe, Japan, on the largest building ever tested on an earthquake shake table. A team of researchers led by Colorado State University will run tests on the seven-story, mixed-use building in July to see how it responds to a series of quakes.


     
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