Seismic assessment of Japanese traditional wooden structure by dynamic interaction numerical analysis of surrounding ground

A seismic assessment of a traditional wooden building, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto,' revealed that the structure is at risk of partial damage during a scenario earthquake and potential collapse if subjected to double its amplitude. The study employed three-dimensional earthquake response analyses, incorporating dynamic interaction between the building and surrounding ground due to its location on a hill with complex geophysical features. This approach was compared against a non-interaction model for accuracy. Geotechnical investigations informed the analysis, highlighting significant differences in seismic responses when considering structure-ground coupling versus isolated structural models.

SAKAI, H., IZUNO, K., SAKO, K., ENDO, T., FUKAGAWA, R., & TOKI, K. (2014). Seismic assessment of Japanese traditional wooden structure by dynamic interaction numerical analysis of surrounding ground. Journal of Natural Disaster Science, 35(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.2328/jnds.35.1