Validation of passive control by world s largest shaking table: Preliminary design/analysis of a full-scale 5-story building specimen

As a consequence of considerable economic losses realized in recent earthquakes, there is increased motivation to use passive control systems that can protect both the structure and its contents from earthquakedamage. Currentstatus of Japanese passive control technology implemented in Japan is over viewed, and inlarge the extensive researchprogram that start ed in April 2005 is explained. The researchfocuses onper-formance evaluation of the new systems under realistic loading conditions. Three-dimensional (3-D) full-scale dynamic tests of a 5-story steel frame with 20 dampers will be conducted in 2008, by using the world s largest E-Defense shaking table. The test will be repeated by trying at least 5 different types of dampers. On-going preliminarydesignandanalysisof thefull-scalebuildingaresummarized.