Shaking table tests and dynamic response analysis of freestanding brick cave-dwelling

In order to study the dynamic response of freestanding brick cave-dwellings, the shaking table tests were performed on a structural model with the 1/4 scale. Two natural seismic waves and one fitted artificial wave were used as the input excitation to the structure to analyze its failure modes, dynamic characteristics, acceleration response, displacement response, torsional effect, base shear, and hysteretic energy dissipation. The results show that the Yaolian, Yaotui, and the middle dome are severely damaged under an earthquake. The natural frequency of the structure decreases with the cumulative damages, while the overall damping ratio appears to increase with the cumulative damages. The structural stiffness along the depth is eccentrically distributed, which causes a noticeable torsion effect while the structure responds in unidirectional translational motion under an earthquake. Among them, the acceleration response of the back wall is smaller than that of the Yaolian under low intensity earthquakes, but the situation is reversed under higher earthquakes. As the peak ground acceleration increases, the interlayer shear force gradually reaches the ultimate bearing capacity of the structural story, causing the structural stiffness gradually degrades. Obviously, the stiffness degradation of Yaotui story is more significant than other structural stories, particularly the stiffness degradation of the middle Yaotui is greater than that of the side Yaotui, and the stiffness degradation of the middle dome constrained by the middle Yaotui is also more significant. In addition, the structural deformation and cumulative energy dissipation increase significantly with the increase of the peak ground acceleration Refereed/Peer-reviewed