Shaking Table Test Of A Brick Masonry Structure

China is one of the countries which suffer most seriously from earthquake dis-asters. Most destructive earthquake in China occurred in rural areas, resulting in huge casualties and property losses. This can be due to the collapse of building dur-ing a seismic event. Therefore, the earthquake resistant behaviour of buildings in rural areas is significantly related to people's production, life and social stability.In September 2010, the author conducted field research in Lindian County of Daqing where an earthquake of Ms5.1 occurred in 2005. Through detailed analysis, the author summarized the characteristics and problems of the building structures in rural areas. Based on the research results, a shaking table testing of brick masonry model of 1:2 scale was carried out. Main contents and conclusions can be drawn as follows:1. A performance test of the laboratory acquisition system is carried out to de-termine the effect of sampling frequency and number of acquisition channel on the dynamic data acquisition error of Beijing Pop testing system. NI acquisition card was used as the acquisition instrument in this test since the dynamic data acquisition method by using Beijing Pop testing system may not be stable.2. By recording the crack propogation in the wall of the model building under earthquake excitation, it is found that the part above the ring beam of the gable wall is is the weakest part. The top of the gable wall breaks away from the purlines the earliest, and thus it is easy to be thrown out under the earthquake. Most of the crack could be observed around the door and window openings, the ring beams, and the lintels. These crack propogated soon in the test. It is also found that without the constructional column, crack in the wall could easily develop over the corner.3. Through analysis of the acceleration and displacement response of the struc-ture, it is found that the precision of the occurrence of seismic waves declines with the increase of the peak earthquake excitation. Through the sine wave sweeping, it is found that the natural frequency of vibration of the structure declines rapidly with the increase of earthquake excitation. The lateral stiffness of the structure, however, decreases quickly with the increase of earthquake excitation. The closer the natural period of vibration of seismic waves is to the predominant period of the structure, the more significant the structural response is. Through displacement response, it can be found that the structure distorted to some extent due to different rigidity of longitudinal walls. 4. The test observation and analysis show that masonry mortar buildings with only ring beam but no constructional columns can resist the earthquake of Ms 8.0 without collapse as long as the construction method is reasonable,.This study will supply a good theoretical guidance for the seismic design of ru-ral buildings in Daqing, Heilongjiang province. And it also provides technical con-struction suggestions for enhancing seismic behavior of houses made of brick ma-sonry in rural areas. Besides, the results of this research will provide scientific basis for the development of seismic design and seismic strengthening of rural houses.