COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS WCCM VI in conjunction with APCOM’04, Sept. 5-10, 2004, Beijing, China  2004 Tsinghua University Press & Springer-Verlag Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Brick Chimneys, Tokoname, Japan T. Aoki 1* , D. Sabia 2 1 Graduate School of Design and Architecture, Nagoya City University, kitachikusa 2-1-10, Chikusa-ku, 464-0083 Nagoya, Japan 2 Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy e-mail: aoki@sda.nagoya-cu.ac.jp, donato.sabia@polito.it Abstract For the purpose of obtaining the data concerning static and dynamic structural properties of brick chimneys in Tokoname, a series of material test, dynamic test and static collapse test of the existing two brick chimneys are carried out. From the material tests, Young’s modulus and compressive strength of the brick used for these chimneys are estimated 3200MPa and 7.5MPa, respectively. The results of static collapse test of the existing two brick chimneys are discussed here comparing with the results obtained by FEA (Finite Element analysis). From the results of dynamic tests, the fundamental frequencies of Howa and Iwata brick chimneys are estimated to be about 2.79 Hz and 2.93 Hz, respectively. Their natural modes and damping factors are identified by ARMAV (Auto Regressive Moving Average) model. On the basis of the static and dynamic experimental tests, numerical model has been prepared. According to the elastic transient dynamic analysis, these brick chimneys seem to be vulnerable to earthquakes with 0.24 to 0.30 g. Key words: brick chimney, dynamic test, static collapse test, ARMAV, Identification INTRODUCTION Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, is located in the center of the west coast of the Chita Peninsula, facing Ise Bay to the west and hilly terrain extends to the east. Tokoname has long been noted for its production of ceramic ware, and its history dates back to nearly 1,000 years ago. Along with Seto, Shigaraki, Echizen, Tanba, and Bizen, Tokoname is included in the Rokkoyo (the nation’s six oldest ceramic producing districts). And Tokoname is said to be the oldest and largest kiln site of them all. Even today, Ceramics is one of the major industries in Tokoname where the tradition and the culture of Tokoname ware are still alive. On the offshore waters of Tokoname City, the construction of the Central Japan International Airport is now underway aiming to begin its operation in 2005 [1]. Pottery has been a drastically growing industry since the Meiji period as ceramic pipes started to be used as a piping material for drainage. In these days, industrial materials or products for business use such as sanitary wares and ceramic tiles are eagerly produced. “Tokoname ware” has a wide range of products from tea-things, flower vases, bonsai pots, and ceramic ornaments to a new series of products such as “handmade tableware” which meets the demands of the present age while preserving the tradition [1]. Until the first half of the Showa period, there were over 300 chimneys in Tokoname. Some of them were destroyed by typhoon and/or earthquake. Unfortunately, according to the vulnerability for typhoon and/or earthquake, chimneys which were not used were pulled down, or they were made half height, and now, the number of chimneys is decreasing to 119 (Figure 1). According to the results of an investigation on a history of earthquakes, it is the interval of about 100 to 150 years in the Tokai - Nankai area until now, and there is rising concern that earthquake of magnitude 8 class will occur in the first half of this century. The purpose of this paper is to obtain the data concerning static and dynamic structural properties of brick chimneys in Tokoname to preserve them.