Questionnaire survey to inhabitants' impression on performance of seismically isolated buildings in the 2004 Mid Niigata Earthquake of Japan

Abstract

In disaster areas of the 2004 Mid Niigata earthquake of Japan, the authors carried out questionnaire surveys on inhabitants' impression about performance of seismically isolated buildings. The questionnaire mainly deals with floor responses. This paper presents responses to the questionnaire about one representative building, which is located in the most severe disaster area. According to them, some inhabitants felt discomfort like seasickness during the earthquake and a few light or unstable interior things fell down or overturned on the floor. But on the whole, seismically isolated building effectively reduced floor responses and most of the inhabitants highly appreciated its performance.