Cable tray systems are essential for supporting electrical and communication cables in buildings, but their failure during earthquakes can disrupt critical services and pose serious safety risks. Researchers have now validated Japan's seismic design guidelines through full-scale shaking table tests. While seismic supports proved sufficiently strong, the cable trays themselves were more vulnerable. The team also developed a simple steel-wire reinforcement method that significantly improves seismic performance in both new and existing buildings.
Earthquakes often bring attention to damaged buildings, but failures of non-structural components can be just as disruptive. Cable tray systems, which support electrical and communication cables throughout buildings, are essential for keeping power and communication networks running. If these systems fail during an earthquake, they can injure occupants and interrupt critical services in hospitals, airports, factories, government facilities, and data centers.
To better understand how these systems perform during earthquakes, a research team led by Professor Kazuhiro Matsuda from the Department of Architecture, Meijo University, Japan, together with Mr. Eisaku Asatsuma from Negurosu Denko Co., Professor Kazuhiko Kasai from Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Professor Huanjun Jiang from Tongji University, conducted one of the most comprehensive full-scale evaluations of suspended cable tray systems designed according to Japanese seismic standards. The study was made available online on 20 March 2026 and published in Volume 358 of the journal Engineering Structures on 1 July 2026.
The research was inspired by lessons from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Although many buildings remained structurally safe, damage to non-structural building services, including cable tray systems, caused widespread disruption. Existing Japanese seismic design guidelines had not been thoroughly validated through full-scale testing, prompting the researchers to evaluate their effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement. Prof. Kazuhiro Matsuda suggests, “Improving the performance of the tray components, rather than the support structures alone, is essential for enhancing the resilience of building services.”
The researchers tested full-scale suspended cable tray systems more than 10 meters long using a large earthquake shaking table that simulated increasingly stronger earthquakes. They also carried out additional loading tests to evaluate the strength of both the cable trays and their seismic support members.
The experiments showed that the seismic support members met the required design strengths and remained largely undamaged during testing. However, the cable trays themselves experienced significant deformation and damage under strong shaking, making them the weakest part of the system. “Our experiments confirmed that the seismic support members possess sufficient strength, but the cable trays themselves can become the critical point of failure during severe earthquakes,” explains Prof. Matsuda.
To overcome this problem, the researchers developed a simple reinforcement method using strategically arranged steel wires. Unlike conventional reinforcement approaches, the proposed method is lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to install while effectively improving the cable trays' resistance to earthquake damage. Laboratory tests showed that the reinforced cable trays performed substantially better than conventional designs. Because the reinforcement requires only steel wires and simple installation procedures, it has the potential to be used both in newly constructed buildings and as a retrofit for existing facilities.
Overall, the findings show that strengthening the cable trays themselves can significantly improve the earthquake resilience of building service systems without requiring major structural modifications. The proposed reinforcement method offers a practical and cost-effective way to help keep essential electrical and communication systems operating after earthquakes, improving both public safety and business continuity.
About Meijo University
Meijo University traces its origin back to the establishment of the Nagoya Science and Technology Course in 1926, giving it a proud history of more than 90 years. As one of the largest universities in the Chubu region, Meijo University is a comprehensive learning institution that supports a wide range of academic fields from the humanities to physical sciences. With a network of more than 200,000 graduates and alumni, it strives to contribute not only to local industries but also to international communities in various fields. Meijo University is also known as the birthplace of the carbon nanotube. To foster the human resources of the next generation, the university continues to tackle ongoing challenges by further enhancing its campus and creating new faculties.
Website: https://www.meijo-u.ac.jp/english/
About Professor Kazuhiro Matsuda from Meijo University
Professor Kazuhiro Matsuda is a faculty member in the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Science and Technology, Meijo University, Japan. His research focuses on earthquake engineering, structural dynamics, and the seismic performance of non-structural building components, with particular emphasis on improving the resilience of critical building infrastructure. His work combines full-scale experimental testing, structural analysis, and practical engineering solutions to enhance the safety and functionality of buildings during earthquakes. Through collaborations with academia and industry, Professor Matsuda aims to develop evidence-based seismic design and retrofit strategies that strengthen infrastructure resilience and support disaster preparedness.
Engineering Structures
10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122624
Experimental study
Not applicable
Verification of Japanese seismic design guidelines for suspended cable tray systems and proposal of a simple reinforcement method
1-Jul-2026