Shake table test on 3-storey light-frame timber building

Shake table tests were carried out on a 7m × 5m three stories timber light frame building (7.5 m high) at the TreesLab laboratory (Eucentre) in Pavia. The goal of the research project was to evaluate the seismic behavior of a typical Italian prefabricated timber building and to study the interaction between the singular structural components tested in quasi-static way. The 1979 Montenegro Earthquake ground motion, recorded at Ulcinj-Hotel Albatros, was selected as the ground motion for seismic tests. The maximum peak ground acceleration was scaled to 0.07g, 0.27g, 0.5g. 0,7g and lg in order to evaluate the performance of the building at different levels of seismic inputs. A frequency and damping evaluation tests were used before and after each seismic test to identify natural frequencies, modal shapes and equivalent viscous damping ratio, exciting the structure with a low amplitude white random noise. After each seismic excitations the specimen was inspected for evidences of damage. The building designed for a 0,28g PGA representing a hazard level of 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years or a return period of 475 years, showed no visual damages at all the stage of the tests.