Shake table tests for the seismic performance assessment of desktop medical laboratory equipment considering the effect of adjacent walls and restrainers

Earthquake damage to freestanding contents has received significant concerns in past earthquakes. Shaking table tests are conducted to investigate the seismic performance of desktop medical laboratory equipment. Representative small- and medium-sized desktop equipment are placed on experimental desks and tested considering the case where the desks are placed against an adjacent wall. Besides, the effectiveness of restrainers in response mitigation is examined. The damage states and fragilities for desktop equipment are defined and generated. Results show that the responses of the tested specimens are highly dependent on the input peak acceleration, i.e., the higher peak acceleration, the larger component peak acceleration and residual displacement. The wall has an effect on the increase of the desk's horizontal acceleration and can limit rocking by energy dissipation during the poundings with the desk. The restrainers can effectively mitigate displacement and limit the rocking of equipment-desk systems at the expense of increased acceleration. The seismic performance of desktop equipment is improved with restrainers as the fragility curves shift rightward. The experimental work provides a significant opportunity to advance the understanding of the seismic performance of desktop equipment.