Seismic Behavior of Base-Level Diaphragm Anchorage of Hillside Woodframe Buildings

This report summarizes an experimental and analytical program on seismic behavior of the base-level diaphragm anchorage of hillside wood-frame buildings. The background of practice in the construction of hillside buildings as well as the current code requirements for earthquake resistance was reviewed and an experimental program with testing of primary and secondary anchors under simulated seismic loading was carried out. Analytical models were developed for pushover analysis of the base-level diaphragm in both the downhill direction and the cross downhill direction.

The specific research objectives include:
i. To provide a literature review on the practice of construction and retrofit of hillside
buildings, existing research, and code requirements or guidelines.
ii. To define and conduct an experimental program to provide information on the seismic
behavior of hillside buildings.
iii. To develop analytical methods for evaluating the performance of hillside buildings and
their key structural elements.