Dynamic Behaviour of Interlocking Plastic-block Structure Using Shake Table

Abstract

Severe damage was caused by the earthquake, primarily to non-engineered structures in rural areas. Structures including roads, bridges, buildings and railroad tracks all suffered catastrophic destruction as a result of strong ground motion. In seismically active areas, the absence of earthquake-resistant structures results in a significant loss of life. To stop losses from future earthquakes, safe and economical earthquake-resistant housing is necessary. A mortar-free interlocking plastic block structure is among the best options for reducing seismic damage. Although several researchers have utilised different interlocking methods, mortar-free interlocking plastic-block structures have not yet been studied. An interlocking plastic block wall prototype is taken into consideration for the research purposes. In this study, a shake table is used to examine how an interlocking plastic-block wall responds to harmonic loading at frequencies of 1.3 Hz, 1.4 Hz, and 1.5 Hz, respectively. To record base excitation, one accelerometer is placed at the bottom of the structure, and the other is attached to the upper block to record the structure's response from the top. Acceleration-time, velocity-time and displacement-time histories are used to predict the structure's behaviour. The response of the structure is recorded in terms of acceleration-time, velocity-time and displacement-time histories. Average energy absorption, base shear (Q)-displacement curves (Δ) and damping of interlocking plastic-block walls are also calculated. This research will be useful in the future to explore the dynamic behaviour of interlocking plastic block structures in more detail.