Comparative Analysis of the Seismic Performance of a Full-Scale Historical Timber Structure by Numerical Simulation and Mechanical Test

ABSTRACT

In order to accurately use numerical analysis results to evaluate seismic performance, a quantitative relationship between the parameters of the ideal finite element model (FEM) and full-scale test model (FTM) of historic timber structures must be established. In this study, a single-story full-scale timber structure with four columns and Dou-gongs that was common during the Song dynasty of China (A.D. 960–1279) was taken as the object, and pseudo-static test (or simulation) analysis was carried out on the FTM and the corresponding FEM. The numerical model was consistent with the test model in terms of the structural deformation pattern and stress characteristics of the key nodes. The key-point loads of the skeleton curves, stiffness ratio, ductility coefficient, and stiffness relationship were quantitatively established for the two models. Accordingly, approximate formulas for the above relationships were proposed.

KEYWORDS:

• Comparative analysis
• historic timber structure
• hysteresis performance
• test and numerical model

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the funding support received from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants Nos. 51338001 and 51278324).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [51338001 and 51278324]; Applied Basic Research Project of Shanxi Province [20210302123140,20210302124116]