Experiment Videos

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Equipment

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  0702 Shaking Table Test of Small-diameter Piping-support System
  (Aug. 2007) （ Test Number: E200702 ）

  Equipment
0702 Shaking Table Test of Small-diameter Piping-support System
(Aug. 2007) （ Test Number: E200702 ）

【Facility Rental Experiment Conducted by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.】
Nuclear power plants in Japan are designed to satisfy seismic design requirements based on the “Regulatory Guide for Reviewing Seismic Design of Nuclear. Power Reactor Facilities.” Following the revision of the guideline in September 2006, the government requested operating companies to conduct seismic backchecks on existing plants. While seismic margin has been confirmed for important facilities at nuclear power plants through various seismic tests, seismic margin tests simulating simultaneous elastic-plastic behavior of piping and supports have not been extensively conducted to date. Based on the above, experiments were conducted using E-Defense to confirm the seismic safety of the entire piping-support system. Using 4-inch and 2-inch diameter pipes and pipe supports commonly found in nuclear power plants as test specimens, simulated earthquake motions equivalent to a major earthquake were input, enabling confirmation of the seismic safety of the small-diameter piping system, including pipe supports.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E200702



Input Ground Motion

Aug. 24 - Artificial motion in X-direction, the maximum acceleration of 800 Gal

　Overall view from East: E200702_070824_1.mpeg ）

　Overall view from North: E200702_070824_2.mpeg ）

　Details of T-joint: E200702_070824_3.mpeg ）


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  0708 Study on the Response Characteristics of Horizontal Seismically Isolated Plants to Inputs Exceeding Design Motions
  (Feb. 2008) （ Test Number: E200708 ）

  Isolation/Damping Equipment
0708 Study on the Response Characteristics of Horizontal Seismically Isolated Plants to Inputs Exceeding Design Motions
(Feb. 2008) （ Test Number: E200708 ）

【Facility Rental Experiment Conducted by Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry】
To understand the seismic behavior of the isolation system in ground motions exceeding the design seismic motion level and design motions, shake table tests of a horizontally isolated system were conducted using E-Defense at a scale closer to that of the actual structure. A test specimen consisting of an upper building model composed of an upper foundation plate and wall structure, and an isolation layer containing Lead Rubber Bearings (LRB), was constructed. Temporary design seismic motions and observed seismic motions from past earthquakes were input into the test specimen. The experimental results showed that, under design seismic motion levels, the horizontal acceleration response was reduced, while the vertical response exhibited amplification, among other phenomena.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E200708



Input Ground Motion

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  0803 Shaking Table Test for Verification of Seismic Performance of Cranes in Nuclear Facilities
  (Oct. & Nov. 2008) （ Test Number: E200803 ）

  Equipment
0803 Shaking Table Test for Verification of Seismic Performance of Cranes in Nuclear Facilities
(Oct. & Nov. 2008) （ Test Number: E200803 ）

【Facility Rental Experiment Conducted by Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.】
In the event of an earthquake causing damaged or fallen cranes at nuclear facilities, there is a possibility that safety-critical equipment such as spent fuel storage facilities may be damaged. In such cases, cranes must be equipped with fall prevention functions. Cranes are located at the upper part of buildings and are prone to response amplification. Based on the above, E-Defense experiments were conducted with the aim of understanding earthquake-induced nonlinear responses, especially in vertical motion, including load-bearing capacity, sliding/floating/collision, and verifying the performance of fall prevention functions. Based on a detailed investigation of the crane's structural overview and dynamic characteristics, the ceiling crane of a BWR reactor building was selected as the test specimen. The detailed specifications of the test specimen were determined by incorporating the shake table specifications of E-Defense. Due to constraints on the size of the shake table, the test specimen scale was set to 1/2.5. Simulated earthquake motions and observed motions from the 2007 Niigata Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake were input into the test specimen, and important data was successfully collected.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E200803



Input Ground Motion

Nov. 10 - Artificial motion 150%

　Bird view: E200803_081110_1.mpg

　Detailed view of a crane wheel: E200803_081110_2.mpg



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  0805 Experiment to Evaluate Maintenance of Functions of Important Facility, Medical Facility
  (Dec. 2008 & Jan. 2009) （ Test Number: E200805 ）

  Reinforced Concrete Isolation/Damping Equipment Furniture
0805 Experiment to Evaluate Maintenance of Functions of Important Facility, Medical Facility
(Dec. 2008 & Jan. 2009) （ Test Number: E200805 ）

Shaking table experiments had been conducted to evaluate ability of functional maintenance of medical facilities under earthquake disaster. A full-scale 4-story reinforced concrete building specimen simulating a hospital which contained a stuff station, a dialysis room, an operating room and a patient’s room each furnished with real medical equipment and furniture was set up to reproduce function of the medical facility more faithfully. Two hospitals of different kind of structure each, one for a base-fixed structure and the other for a seismic isolated structure, were compared and evaluated their functional maintenance by shaking table experiments. Comparative video of the experiments shows risk of the aseismic hospital and ability of functional maintenance of the seismic isolated hospital under a near fault earthquake ground motion. But even a seismic isolated structure which widely reduces damages against earthquake in general can be exposed to risk by long-period, long-duration earthquake ground motion such as synthetic ground motion for Sannomaru area, Nagoya from a scenario Tokai-Tonankai earthquake if one fails to take earthquake countermeasures.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E200805

Experiment Overview: E200805.pdf



Input Ground Motion

JMA Kobe motion (the 1995 Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake) 80%, near fault earthquake & Expected ground motion for Sannomaru area, Nagoya from a scenario Tokai-Tonankai earthquake

Comparison of the fixed- and isolated-base structures
　E200805_090122.wmv


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  0907 Research on the Tank Sloshing Effect
  (Nov. 2009) （ Test Number: E200907 ）

  Equipment
0907 Research on the Tank Sloshing Effect
(Nov. 2009) （ Test Number: E200907 ）

【Facility Rental Experiment Conducted by Toshiba Corporation】
The flat-bottomed cylindrical tanks installed in BWR power plants are required to maintain their integrity and containment of internal fluids under design earthquake motions. However, since there is no established method for reasonably evaluating the effects of internal fluid sloshing colliding with the tank top, many tanks are designed with the tank top positioned at a height higher than the maximum sloshing height expected to occur due to the assumed seismic forces. Considering this, E-Defense shaking tests were conducted to obtain data on the behavior of internal fluids and the dynamic pressure acting on the tank due to internal fluid sloshing in flat-bottomed cylindrical tanks. Through the experiments, time-history data on wave heights and dynamic pressures of the highly nonlinear internal fluid were obtained. By comparing the results of three-dimensional simulation-based flow analysis with the experimental results, the validity and reproducibility of the simulation were verified. Additionally, verification is being conducted toward the establishment of a method for evaluating the effects of sloshing on the tank top plate.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E200907




Input Ground Motion

Nov. 20 - Resonant Sinusoidal Motion 0.55 Hz, 2-horizontal direction, X-displacement 4.2 cm & Y-displacement 10 cm

　Bird view from South-west: E200907_091120_1.mpg

　Bird view from East: E200907_091120_2.mpg ）


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  1001 Research on Quantitative Evaluation of Seismic Performance of Aging Piping System
  (Aug. 2010) （ Test Number: E201001 ）

  Equipment
1001 Research on Quantitative Evaluation of Seismic Performance of Aging Piping System
(Aug. 2010) （ Test Number: E201001 ）

In Japan, commercial nuclear power plants began operating in the 1960s, and as of the end of December 2010, there were 54 commercial nuclear reactors in operation, 36 of these having been in operation for more than 20 years. Facilities that have been in use for a long time are expected to experience deterioration of their components and piping due to aging, and it is necessary to take appropriate measures to deal with this deterioration. In piping systems, corrosion and other factors can cause thinning deterioration, as one example of aging. In addition, Japan is prone to earthquakes, so it is essential to evaluate the seismic performance of aging plants.
Based on the above, to evaluate and verify the effects of deterioration on the seismic response and performance of piping systems, two types of piping system test specimens - a healthy test specimen without deterioration and a reduced-wall-thickness test specimen - were fabricated, mounted on the E-Defense facility, and subjected to simulated seismic motions at the same time. Simulated earthquake motions covering the frequency range of 1.5 Hz to 5.5 Hz, including the first to third modal frequencies of the test specimens, were generated and applied to the test specimens. In the experiment, the reduced-wall-thickness test specimen suffered damage due to internal pressure failure associated with the ratchet phenomenon, and thereafter, continued shaking resulted in fatigue cracking damage to the healthy test specimen.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E201001



Input Ground Motion

Aug. 5 - Simulated seismic motion 560%

　Overall view: E201001_100805_1.mpeg

　T-joint of the health specimen: E201001_100805_2.mpeg

　T-joint of the reduced-wall-thickness specimen: E201001_100805_3.mpeg



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  1002 Shaking Table Experiments for Enhancing the Functional Integrity of Important Facilities
  (Aug. & Oct. 2010) （ Test Number: E201002 ）

  Reinforced Concrete Isolation/Damping Equipment Furniture
1002 Shaking Table Experiments for Enhancing the Functional Integrity of Important Facilities
(Aug. & Oct. 2010) （ Test Number: E201002 ）

In the event of a major earthquake in an urban area, it is important to maintain and continue urban functions such as politics, economy, medical care, and information distribution even after the disaster. However, the functional integrity of important facilities that constitute these urban functions is mostly unknown, and effective methods to enhance their functional integrity have not been adequately established. Therefore, as part of the “Special Project for Earthquake Disaster Mitigation in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area” commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), a series of E-Defense experiments were conducted to investigate the functional integrity of important facilities with seismic-resistant and seismic-isolation structures.
The test specimen was a four-story reinforced concrete (RC) structure modeled a typical medical facility, with actual span and floor heights. First, an experiment was conducted on the seismic isolation structure by installing seismic isolation devices between the test specimen and the shaking table. Subsequently, the seismic isolation devices were removed, and the test specimen was bolted to the shaking table to conduct an experiment on the seismic-resistant structure. Main medical equipment and information and communication systems were installed in each room of the test structure, along with equipment such as sprinklers, fire hydrants, and medical gas pipes. During the shaking tests, short-period earthquake motions such as the El Centro and JMA Kobe motions, and long-period earthquake motions such as the San'no-maru motion were applied. The experiments provided various data and video footage regarding indoor and equipment damage in both earthquake-resistant and seismic isolation structures.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E201002



Input Ground Motion

Oct. 10, Seismic-resistant structure - JMA Kobe motion (the 1995 Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake) 2-horizontal directions 80%

　Overall view: E201002_101021_1.mpeg

　Staff station at the 2nd floor: E201002_101021_2.mpeg

　Operation room at the 3rd floor: E201002_101021_3.mpeg



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  1004 Experiment of Concrete Building, Equipment and Piping
  (Dec. 2010) （ Test Number: E201004 ）

  Reinforced Concrete Equipment
1004 Experiment of Concrete Building, Equipment and Piping
(Dec. 2010) （ Test Number: E201004 ）

A series of full-scale shaking experiments on a precast and post-tensioned concrete (PPC) structure were conducted to establish high-quake-resistant, productive and reparable concrete buildings. And experiments on a reinforced concrete (RC) structure with almost the same shape of the PPC structure were conducted to acquire usable data for the future development of seismic design method. In the experiments, both the PPC and RC structures were shaken at the same time (the PPC structure at the front and the RC structure at the back of the video). As for the two 4-story buildings, the story height of each floor was 3.0 m, and the long side of the rectangular plane was 14.4 m and the short side was 7.2 m.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E201004

Experiment Overview: E201004.pdf



Input Ground Motion

Dec. 13 - JMA Kobe motion (the 1995 Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake) 50%

　 E201004_101213.wmv


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  1006 Verification Test of High Seismic Resistance PWR Spent Fuel Rack
  (Feb. & Mar. 2011) （ Test Number: E201006 ）

  Equipment
1006 Verification Test of High Seismic Resistance PWR Spent Fuel Rack
(Feb. & Mar. 2011) （ Test Number: E201006 ）

【Facility Rental Experiment Conducted by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.】
The freestanding fuel rack system is a method that ensures high seismic resistance without using foundation bolts or wall supports to secure the rack, and this freestanding system is the mainstream approach overseas. Based on experimental research conducted both domestically and internationally, it has become possible to design appropriate structures that incorporate effects such as reducing rack slippage and minimizing movement underwater. To facilitate the practical application of free-standing fuel racks, the conduct of full-scale shake table tests was highly desired. With the aim of confirming the feasibility of designing structures with sufficient seismic reliability and incorporating the results into practical design evaluation methods, an E-Defense shake table test was conducted. A test specimen was prepared by installing a rack with dimensions of 3 m in length, 2 m in width, and 4.5 m in height inside a water tank with internal dimensions of 7 m in length, 7 m in width, and 7 m in height. Experiments were conducted with and without water in the tank. The results confirmed that it is possible to design a free-standing rack with sufficient seismic reliability, and that the test results and analysis results showed good agreement, confirming the feasibility of analytical evaluation in actual design.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E201006



Input Ground Motion

Mar. 1, Case with rack installed in water - 2-horizontal direction motion

　Top view: E201006_110301_1.mpg

　Bird view from West: E201006_110301_2.mpg ）



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  1103 Research and Development of the Measures for Damage Mitigation caused by Long-period Ground Motion
  (Oct. 2011) （ Test Number: E201103 ）

  Non-structural Equipment Furniture
1103 Research and Development of the Measures for Damage Mitigation caused by Long-period Ground Motion
(Oct. 2011) （ Test Number: E201103 ）

In this study, two cases were used for the experiment: a high-rise building model and a low-rise building model. The high-rise building model was based on a 30-story building with a height of 120 meters. The test specimen consisted of the lowest steel frame, which was designed to produce the same shaking as a 6-story high-rise building, and the two upper steel frames, which were designed to produce the same shaking as a 27-story and 28-story high-rise building. The remaining middle part was replaced with a heavy concrete slab and laminated rubber. In the low-rise building model, the middle part was fixed with steel plates to prevent the laminated rubber from working. The test specimen had the widest floor area of any of the previous experiments, and included office and residential spaces. The office space had a suspended ceiling, incorporating both the line ceiling that has been used in many buildings to date, and the grid ceiling, which is advantageous from the perspective of earthquake resistance. Furthermore, the ceiling also incorporated general equipment such as air conditioning units, as well as firefighting equipment such as sprinklers, fire alarms and emergency lighting, reproducing the same equipment functions as in a real building.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E201103

Experiment Overview: E201103.pdf



Input Ground Motion

Oct. 7, Case 1 The high-rise building model
Nishi-Shinjuku motion (aftershock in the 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake) 330%

　1007Shinjuku330_CCD1.wmv: E201103_1007_1.wmv

　1007Shinjuku330_CCD4.wmv: E201103_1007_2.wmv

　1007Shinjuku330_HV1.wmv: E201103_1007_3.wmv

　1007Shinjuku330_HV3.wmv: E201103_1007_4.wmv


Oct. 12, Case 2 The low-rise building model
JMA Kobe motion (the 1995 Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake) 75%

　1012Kobe75_CCD1.wmv: E201103_1012_1.wmv

　1012Kobe75_CCD4.wmv: E201103_1012_2.wmv

　1012Kobe75_HV1.wmv: E201103_1012_3.wmv

　1012Kobe 75_HV3.wmv: E201103_1012_4.wmv


Comparison between the high- and low-rise building models

　Shinjuku330%_CCD.wmv: E201103_1007.wmv

　Kobe25%_CCD.wmv: E201103_1012.wmv


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  1202 Experiment Study of Equipment and Piping System
  (Aug. 2012) （ Test Number: E201202 ）

  Equipment
1202 Experiment Study of Equipment and Piping System
(Aug. 2012) （ Test Number: E201202 ）

Equipment and piping systems are critical components of energy facilities. If damaged by an earthquake, these systems may cause long-term facility shutdowns, disrupting energy supply to external users and delaying post-earthquake recovery efforts. Therefore, it is essential to ensure structural integrity during earthquakes and to make reasonable and prompt decisions regarding restarting operations as soon as possible after an earthquake. To better understand the seismic performance of equipment and piping systems, it is necessary to not only focus on damage occurring within the piping system itself but also to clarify the damage modes that occur when the system is connected to supporting structures and other equipment, thereby determining the overall seismic margin of the equipment and piping system. Furthermore, current seismic design standards are established with the aim of preventing damage during earthquakes and do not incorporate the perspective of evaluating post-earthquake reusability. Therefore, it is important to accumulate data that can be used for integrity assessment and restart decisions when seismic motions exceeding design standards are experienced. Considering this background, an E-Defense experiment was conducted to fabricate test specimens of equipment and piping systems composed of piping, supporting structures, valves, tanks, etc., with the aim of understanding the influence of elastic-plastic deformation of supporting structures on piping responses and the seismic response behavior of joints between equipment and piping. As a result of applying simulated seismic motions exceeding design allowable standards, structural failure of support structures and leakage at flange joints were confirmed.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E201202



Input Ground Motion

Aug. 9 – Expected seismic motion 125%

　Overall view: E201202_120809_1.mpeg

　Around a flexible support: E201202_120809_2.mpeg

　Around a rigid support: E201202_120809_3.mpeg


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  1601 Seismic Performance Evaluation Tests of Wooden Houses and Carports in Recent Large Earthquakes
  (Jan. 2017) （ Test Number: E201601 ）

  Timber Isolation/Damping Equipment
1601 Seismic Performance Evaluation Tests of Wooden Houses and Carports in Recent Large Earthquakes
(Jan. 2017) （ Test Number: E201601 ）

【Facility Rental Experiment Conducted by H.R.D. Singapore Pte. Ltd., Ichijo Housing Research Institute Co., and Ichijo Co., Ltd.】
In the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, it was learned that some wooden houses built before the revision of the Building Standard Law in 2000 and wooden houses built after that time with little extra strength, even if they satisfied the Building Standard Law, could not hold up structurally. The Nankai Trough and earthquake beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area, which are anticipated to occur in the future, are expected to exceed the Kumamoto earthquake in terms of seismic intensity, duration, and frequency of aftershocks, and could cause extensive damage to buildings. In light of this, E-Defense experiments were conducted to 1) evaluate the seismic performance of existing buildings, develop realistic seismic reinforcement methods, and verify the effectiveness of the reinforcement, and 2) determine the limit state of seismically isolated buildings against huge earthquakes that exceeded expectations. 3) Seismic evaluation of a solar carport considering snow loads was also conducted. The test specimens were subjected to multiple inputs of seismic motions of seismic intensity classes 6+ to 7 observed in Japan to collect detailed data on the damage process of wooden houses and the carport.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E201601



Input Ground Motion

Jan. 23, seismically reinforced house and isolated house - JMA Mashiki (aftershock in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake) 100 %

　Bird view from North-east: E201601_170123_1.mp4

　Overall and isolation layer: E201601_170123_2.mp4

　Indoor at the 1st floor in the reinforced house: E201601_170123_3.mp4

　Indoor at the 1st floor in the isolated house: E201601_170123_4.mp4


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  1806 E-Defense Experiment to verify the Function of 3-story Wooden Building including Underground Piping Equipment
  (Jan. & Feb. 2019) （ Test Number: E201806 ）

  Timber Geotech Isolation/Damping Non-structural Equipment Furniture
1806 E-Defense Experiment to verify the Function of 3-story Wooden Building including Underground Piping Equipment
(Jan. & Feb. 2019) （ Test Number: E201806 ）

In the “Tokyo Metropolitan Resilience Project ” - a project subsidized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology - E-Defense is being used to collect and maintain data on the maintenance of building functions, including interior and exterior materials, furniture, fixtures, and piping, and on the seismic margin of buildings until they collapse, with the aim of quickly restoring urban functions in the event of a major earthquake, identifying damage, and carrying out repairs.
In this experiment, two three-story wooden houses were tested on a shake table: one with an earthquake-resistant structure that had been reinforced to improve its earthquake resistance, and the other with a seismic isolation structure, which is known to be effective for earthquake countermeasures, from the perspective of ensuring the living functions of residential buildings in densely populated residential areas. The size of the test specimen was 4.5 m x 10 m in plan and approximately 10 m in height. For the seismic-resistant structure, a large-scale soil container with internal dimensions of 7 m x 13 m and a height of 2.5 m was constructed, and a 1.3 m deep soil layer was built inside the container to faithfully reproduce the building conditions from the solid foundation to be constructed on top of the soil layer. Valuable data was collected by inputting observation waves from the 1995 Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake, etc.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E201806



Input Ground Motion

Jan. 31 - JMA Kobe motion (the 1995 Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake) 100%

　 Overall view from North E201806_190131_1.mp4

　 Overall view from South: E201806_190131_2.mp4

　 Dining room at the first floor of the isolated house: E201806_190131_3.mp4

　 Bedroom at the second floor of the seismic-resistant house: E201806_190131_4.mp4


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  2003 Holistic Seismic Assessment of Critical Buildings with Due Consideration of Non-Structural Component and Equipment
  (Dec. 2020) （ Test Number: E202003 ）

  Steel Frame Isolation/Damping Non-structural Equipment Furniture
2003 Holistic Seismic Assessment of Critical Buildings with Due Consideration of Non-Structural Component and Equipment
(Dec. 2020) （ Test Number: E202003 ）

In the “Tokyo Metropolitan Resilience Project ” - a project subsidized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology - E-Defense is being used to collect and maintain data on the maintenance of building functions, including interior and exterior materials, furniture, fixtures, and piping, and on the seismic margin of buildings until they collapse, with the aim of quickly restoring urban functions in the event of a major earthquake, identifying damage, and carrying out repairs.
In this research project, with the aim of developing a system to support safe and efficient decision-making by hospital administrators in the aftermath of a disaster, a large-scale shaking table experiment was conducted on hospital buildings equipped with high-performance facilities. The experiment was designed to propose a method for quantitatively assessing the degree of functional loss immediately after an earthquake in regional core hospitals and other facilities expected to maintain continuous operations during disasters, thereby avoiding unnecessary confusion. Two test structures, a four-story earthquake-resistant building and a three-story earthquake-isolated building, are connected by a bridge corridor. Medical equipment was installed inside the test structures to reproduce the conditions of an actual medical facility. Based on the results of the experiment, this study proposes a quantitative evaluation method for determining the building collapse margin, identifying factors that cause a decline in hospital functions, evaluating the performance of individual high-performance facilities, and assessing the loss of facility functions.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E202003



Input Ground Motion

Dec. 8 - JMA Kobe motion (the 1995 Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake), 50% in X- and Y-dir., and 100% in Z-dir.

　Overall view: E202003_201208_1.wmv

　Operating room at the 3rd floor of earthquake-resistant building: E202003_201208_2.wmv

　Dialysis room at the 3rd floor of seismic isolation building: E202003_201208_3.wmv


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  2102 Full-scale Shaking Table Test of Seismic Reinforced Joints for Water Pipelines
  (Oct. 2021) （ Test Number: E202102 ）

  Geotech Equipment
2102 Full-scale Shaking Table Test of Seismic Reinforced Joints for Water Pipelines
(Oct. 2021) （ Test Number: E202102 ）

In recent earthquakes, water supply disruptions have occurred every time due to the damage to water supply pipes, which are essential for life. One of the main reasons for these disruptions is the detachment of pipe joints. While seismic reinforcement of existing pipelines is being advanced to mitigate damage, many ductile cast-iron pipes with insufficient seismic resistance remain. Therefore, in collaboration with Kanazawa University and Taisei Kiko Co., Ltd., a large-scale shaking table experiment was conducted. A test specimen was constructed by embedding “seismically reinforced piping” and “unreinforced piping” into a large steel soil container with internal dimensions of 4 m in depth, 16 m in width, and 4.5 m in height. The seismically reinforced piping incorporated seismic reinforcement products such as fittings to prevent joint disengagement, while the unreinforced piping was left as-is. By applying excitation using E-Defense to collapse the ground, the behavior of the pipes and joints under conditions of significant ground deformations was investigated. A sinusoidal input motion with a maximum of 750 Gal, 1 Hz, and a duration of approximately 20 seconds was used. The experiment concluded that when the ground collapsed and significant ground displacement acted on the embedded pipes, the unreinforced joints completely pulled out, while the seismic reinforcement joints maintained their functionality.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E202102



Input Ground Motion

Oct. 26 - 1 Hz Sinusoidal motion 750 Gal, 20s of duration

　Bird view: E202102_211026_1.wmv

　Inside of seismic reinforcement pipe using “seismic reinforcement fitting”: E202102_211026_2.wmv

　Inside of unreinforced piping: E202102_211026_3.wmv


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  2104 E-Defense Experiment for Earthquake Damage Mitigation and Damage Assessment for Indoor Spaces and Functions
  (Dec. 2021 & Jan. 2022) （ Test Number: E202104 ）

  Non-structural Equipment Furniture
2104 E-Defense Experiment for Earthquake Damage Mitigation and Damage Assessment for Indoor Spaces and Functions
(Dec. 2021 & Jan. 2022) （ Test Number: E202104 ）

This research aims to collect data on seismic damage to nonstructural members, indoor facilities, furniture, fixtures, etc., and to propose guidelines for damage verification methods, damage prevention methods, and seismic damage sensing methods. Specifically, a large shaking table test specimen that can reproduce damage caused by earthquake motion to various nonstructural members, indoor facilities, furniture, fixtures, etc. (a test unit that can be used repeatedly by replacing nonstructural members, indoor facilities, furniture, fixtures, etc. installed inside it for each test while the main structural members remain undamaged) was prepared and tested for various types of earthquake motion. The data on damage to each nonstructural member under various earthquake ground motions would be collected. Furthermore, these data sets have been developed and examined with the aim of constructing a damage monitoring method.
In order to achieve the objectives of this research, large-scale shaking table experiments were conducted to evaluate damage to indoor spaces under various seismic motions and to obtain data related to post-earthquake business continuity and so on.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E202104



Input Ground Motion

Jan. 19 - JMA Kobe motion (the 1995 Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake) 75%: E202104_220119.wmv


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  2105 Shake Table Test of Piping System with Damage Sequence Control
  （Feb. 2022) （ Test Number: E202105 ）

  Equipment
2105 Shake Table Test of Piping System with Damage Sequence Control
（Feb. 2022) （ Test Number: E202105 ）

As part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) public offering “Development of Technology to Mitigate Damage Expansion and Improve Nuclear Reactor Structural Resilience,” specifically the “Technology to Control Damage Sequences under Severe Earthquakes,” an E-Defense experiment was conducted to clarify the elastic-plastic response behavior of a piping system test specimen composed of small-diameter piping and supporting structures under seismic loads, and to investigate damage sequence control technology. The test specimen consists of a 15A pipe, two pipe support structures supporting the pipe, and two pipe fixed brackets. The input seismic motions were sinusoidal motion and observed seismic motions with a dominant frequency near the first natural frequency of the test specimen, the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake, and excerpts from the 15- to 55-second records of the K-NET Hobetsu NS-component. Through shaking tests, the support structures were plastically deformed, and detailed data were obtained up to crack initiation through subsequent shaking.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E202105



Input Ground Motion

Feb. 25 - K-NET Hobetsu motion (the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake)

　Overall view: E202105_220225_1.wmv

　Detailed view of a piping support: E202105_220225_2.wmv


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  2201 Shaking Table Test of Piping System for Developing High-precision Simulation Model
  (Aug. & Sep. 2022) （ Test Number: E202201 ）

  Equipment
2201 Shaking Table Test of Piping System for Developing High-precision Simulation Model
(Aug. & Sep. 2022) （ Test Number: E202201 ）

In the seismic design of nuclear power plants, following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant during the 2011 Off-the-Coast of Tohoku Earthquake, considerations for conditions exceeding design assumptions have become necessary. Therefore, in the seismic design and seismic performance evaluation of next-generation nuclear power systems, modeling capable of appropriately evaluating non-elastic behavior, including ultimate behavior, is indispensable. Based on the above, a verification experiment using E-Defense was conducted to acquire data essential for verifying a high-precision simulation model capable of reproducing non-elastic behavior, including ultimate strength evaluation, targeting piping systems, which are one of the critical structures in nuclear facilities. A test specimen with a slightly complex three-dimensional shape, including five elbows, one T-joint, and a riser section, was fabricated. To amplify the response during shaking tests and adjust the test specimen's natural frequency, 400 kg weights were installed at each location. As input motions, simulated earthquake motions (narrow-band random waves with a frequency range of 1.5 Hz to 5.5 Hz, designed to excite the first and second modes of the test specimen while maintaining the phase of actual earthquake motions) and sine motions (single-axis in the Y direction) were used. By inputting simulated earthquake motions ranging from 25% to 500%, data was acquired from the elastic range to the ultimate behavior of the piping system. As a result, detailed data such as damage data of the T-joint and ratchet deformation in the straight pipe directly above the T-joint were obtained.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E202201



Input Ground Motion

Sep. 1 - Simulated earthquake motion 500%

　Overall view: E202201_220901_1.wmv

　Detailed view of a T-joint: E202201_220901_2.wmv


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  2204 Shake-table Test for Assessing Dynamic Characteristics of Building Structures using a 10-story Steel Office Building
  (Feb. 2023) （ Test Number: E202204 ）

  Steel Frame Non-structural Equipment Furniture
2204 Shake-table Test for Assessing Dynamic Characteristics of Building Structures using a 10-story Steel Office Building
(Feb. 2023) （ Test Number: E202204 ）

To save lives and keep society and the economy going in the event of a big earthquake like the one expected in the Nankai Trough in the near future, it is essential to get ready now and have a plan for after the earthquake so decisions can be made quickly. The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience is developing a “dynamic characteristic evaluation method” that assesses the dynamic characteristics of buildings, such as their shaking period and ease of settling, based on their shaking patterns. To this end, a joint research project with a private company is underway to develop exterior materials (LED light alert system) that incorporate sensors to measure building shaking and LED lights that instantly display the measurement and evaluation results. Here, shake table tests were conducted to verify and validate the dynamic characteristic evaluation method and LED light alert system. The test specimen was a full-scale 10-story office building with a floor area of 12.0 m × 8.0 m, 10 stories, a height of 26.9 m, and a weight of approximately 700 tons. In the experiments, the test specimen was subjected to repeated small earthquakes with seismic intensities of 2 to 4 and large earthquakes with seismic intensities exceeding 5 to capture changes in dynamic characteristics. An LED light alert system was also installed on the test specimen to demonstrate the immediate light emission display of deformations. The results of the experiments demonstrated that the developed dynamic characteristic evaluation method could capture changes in dynamic characteristics, and that the LED light alert system could accurately measure building deformation and display it in real time using LED lights. Additionally, through a framework for joint research and the provision of surplus space, various interior materials, furniture, fixtures, and equipment were installed inside the building, enabling the acquisition of valuable data on the shaking, movement, and damage caused by earthquakes.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E202204





Input Ground Motion

Feb. 17 - JMA Kobe motion (the 1995 Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake) 100%: E202204_230217.wmv


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  2303 Study on Vibration Stability of a Floating Seismic Isolation Structure for Nuclear Power Plants
  (Feb. 2024) （ Test Number: E202303 ）

  Isolation/Damping Equipment
2303 Study on Vibration Stability of a Floating Seismic Isolation Structure for Nuclear Power Plants
(Feb. 2024) （ Test Number: E202303 ）

This study is a joint research between the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED).
The purpose of this research is to conduct a series of vibrational shaking tests to evaluate the seismic isolation performance of a floating seismically isolated structure using a floating body equipped with a floating seismic isolation mechanism in a pool.
The results of the tests demonstrated the seismic isolation effect of the floating seismic isolation structure with air cavity and orifice.

Detailed information and acquired data and images from this experiment are available in E-Defense Data Archive, ASEBI.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17598/NIED.0020-E202303




Input Ground Motion

Feb. 9 - Nakaminato Motion (the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake), large-level： E202303_240209.wmv

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