Study on input motion and dynamic response for undamaged RC school building during the 2004 Niigata-ken Chuetsu Earthquake

The goal of this study is to clarify dynamic responses of the Ojiya west high school that is near an observation site where severe ground motions were obtained during the 2004 Niigata-Chuetsu Earthquake. Firstly, field surveys of the superstructure and geological surveys were conducted. Next, simulation analyses were performed using the strong motions and the suppressible factors of structure damage were verified on the basis of the analyses results. Structural surveys clarified that both the superstructure and pile foundations of the school building had almost no damage by the earthquake. Geological surveys and site response analyses clarified that the surface clay layer strongly softened during the earthquake. Finally, simulation analyses by the 3-D superstructure-pile foundation model clarified that nonlinear soil-structure interaction greatly affected the structure response and suppressed the damage of superstructure and pile foundation.