Three-dimensional seismic response of two-story wooden buildings with seismic devices using mechanical linkage

In the previous study by the authors, the seismic device which consists of mechanical linkage and steel dampers (MLD) has been proposed to prevent wooden houses from soft-story mechanisms under severe seismic excitation. In this study, the static cyclic loading test on the connection between the MLD and the wooden member is conducted to examine the mechanical performance of the connection. It is shown through experimental and numerical studies that the proposed detail of the connection has enough stiffness and strength and the MLD successfully works to prevent the wooden houses from the soft story collapse.