Search Results (7)

In traditional Chinese timber architecture, “column reduction” (Jian Zhu Zao) and “column relocation” (Yi Zhu Zao) enhances spatial continuity, yet often produces bending-dominated, material-intensive frames. This study develops a generative frame system that encodes raised beam logic into a parametric line-model workflow and couples it with simulation-based optimization. Informed by case analysis, the tool implements three lateral strategies—ridge-support revision, insertion of inclined members, and inclination of originally horizontal members—and one longitudinal strategy—longitudinal truss formation—whose use is governed by a user-defined historical authenticity parameter. Structural responses were evaluated using Karamba3D, and cross-section sizing was searched using Wallacei under gravity-dominant loading. The results indicate clearer load paths, greater axial-force participation, and reduced bending, yielding lower maximum displacements at comparable self-weight; moreover, the performance ranking aligns with the calibrated authenticity loss schedule, suggesting that the authenticity controller also acts as a practical proxy for expected stiffness gains. The framework improves design and modeling efficiency while offering quantitative decision support for culturally sensitive conservation and imitation design. Limitations include line-model idealization, simplified timber and joint behavior, gravity-only loading, and a modest historical corpus. The approach is extensible to other traditional systems via parameter and rule adaptation. Full article

Many similarities can be observed among the timber structures that were built in ancient Japan, China, and Korea, bearing witness to the exchanges between these countries. Japan and China had technical manuals that contributed to the development of architecture in each country. Korea might also have had such manuals, but none have been found. In this study, the author analyzed a Chinese technical manual, the Yingzao Fashi, to derive its system for determining the proportions of architectural elements. The author then applied this system to the dimensions of historic buildings in Korea and Japan to obtain insights into proportionality in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean architectural elements. Full article

Fire is generally recognized as a major threat to the protection of historic timber architecture. Thus, there is an urgent need to study the fire properties of historic timber structures so as to better protect them in the future. Two types of commonly used wood species (pine and poplar) were selected as test specimens and three types of surface treatments (Chinese traditional coating, modern flame retardant, and a combination of the two methods) were applied. The specimens were subjected to a semi-full-scale fire test. The charring rate and the surface heating curve were calculated during the fire test to assess the flammability of various woods under different treatments. Results showed that the fire properties of traditional-coated wood were better than the modern type, but large amounts of smoke were released during combustion. The combination of traditional and modern methods did not significantly improve the overall fire properties and was even worse than the traditional treatment alone. At the same time, the fire properties of the modern method are highly correlated with the type of wood species used. The above results can provide informative advice on the selection of suitable surface treatments for the subsequent restoration of ancient buildings. Full article

Kanchuang frames are important parts of traditional timber architecture in China. This paper used experimental and numerical methods to study the restoring force model of Kanchuang frames, which were used frequently in Chinese ancient timber structures, particularly in North China. The prototyped test model is a type of Chinese traditional timber architecture named Qilinyingshan. It was widely used in ancient timber buildings preserved from the Ming and Qing dynasties. This study analyzed the loading process and failure modes of the test model, and the skeleton curve and hysteretic curve data were collected. Moreover, a dimensionless skeleton curve model was developed based upon the findings. The hysteresis loops of the test model were also analyzed, and it was found that each hysteresis loop can be divided into several feature segments according to their stiffness at different loading stages. Regression analysis was also used to obtain the stiffness degradation curvilinear equations of the feature segments. Finally, a hysteresis force model of a Kanchuang frame was established. This study also found that the loading process can be divided into three stages: the elastic stage, in which all of the components are in good condition; the elastic–plastic stage, in which cracks gradually develop on the wall; and the new elastic–plastic stage, after which the wall collapses. It was found there was consistency between the restoring force model and the test results, indicating that the model is valid and reliable. The skeleton curve model and hysteretic model provide reference for the nonlinear seismic response of ancient timber architecture. Full article

Due to the long-term service, Chinese ancient timber buildings show varying degrees of wear. Thus, structural health monitoring (SHM) for these cultural and historical treasures is desperately needed to evaluate the service status. Although there are some FBG sensing-based SHM systems, they are not suitable for Chinese ancient timber buildings due to the differences in architectural types, structural loads, materials, and environment. Besides, a technical gap in Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing-based column inclination monitoring exists. To overcome these weaknesses, this paper develops an FBG sensing-based structural health monitoring system for Chinese ancient Chuan-dou-type timber buildings that aims at monitoring structural deformation, i.e., beam deflection and column inclination, temperature, humidity, and fire around the building. An in-situ test and simulation analyses were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the developed SHM system. To validate the long-term-operation of the developed SHM system, monitoring data within 15 months were analyzed. The results show good agreement between the developed SHM system in this paper and other methods. In addition, the SHM system operated well in the first year after its deployment. This implies that the developed SHM system is applicable and effective in the health state monitoring of Chinese ancient Chuan-dou-type timber buildings, laying a foundation for damage prognosis of such types of timber buildings. Full article

The Mahavira Hall of the Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai, China is a century-old traditional timber structure with a post-and-lintel construction. To improve the temple’s architectural layout and enhance the lintel structural integrity, the Mahavira Hall was moved 30.66 m and then elevated 1.05 m in September 2017. To assist in the structural translocation and uplift, the authors designed a monitoring system to continuously measure the relative displacement and inclination of the overall structure, individual components, and inside statues to ensure the integrity of the hall and its contents. This article presents and summarizes the priority issues and principles of monitoring the ancient Chinese timber structure. The time series of monitored data are decimated in order to minimize the fluctuation of data. The structural integrity of the Mahavira Hall was evaluated based on the inclination angle of its vital members. Finally, combined with the limit value regulated by code and the predicted early warning threshold values, which are based on extreme value theory, the effect of the translocation on the structural performance was obtained using fuzzy logic. Full article

Wooden structures in China’s ancient buildings hold highly historical and cultural values. There is an urgent need to repair and replace the damaged wooden structures after hundreds and thousands of years of exposure to weather. Unfortunately, to date there is still a lack of insightful understanding on how the chemical structure, composition, and micro-morphology evolve over the long-term natural aging before artificial ancient timbers can be developed. This work aims to systematically examine the outer surface, middle layer, and inner surface of the same piece of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolate) collected from an ancient Chinese building. Based on qualitative and quantitative analysis, both cellulose and hemicellulose in aged woods are found to experience significant degrees of degradation. The crystalline regions of cellulose are also determined to undergo moderate degradation as compared to the control fresh wood. In comparison, the lignin basically remains unchanged and its content in the inner layer slightly increases, as evidenced by more free phenol groups determined. Relative to the outer and inner layer, the middle layer of the ancient wood shows the lowest degree of degradation close to that of the fresh wood. This work offers guidelines for fabricating artificial ancient woods to repair the destroyed ones in China’s ancient architectures. Full article