Experimental study on the seismic mechanism of a full-scale traditional Chinese timber structure

Abstract

This paper presents the quasi-static test results of a full-scale timber structure specimen that has the architectural features of traditional timber buildings from the Chinese Song dynasty. The specimen was tested six times under varying vertical loads. The seismic performance was investigated with consideration of the vertical uplifting of the structure during lateral loading. The deformation patterns, hysteretic characteristics, and vertical movement features of the timber structure were obtained and analyzed. Based on these results, the energy relationship in the timber structure in the quasi-static test was established. The energy input to the timber structure was converted into hysteretic energy, gravitational potential energy (GPE), and elastic strain energy (ESE). When the cyclic amplitude was small, the hysteretic energy and ESE accounted for the majority of the input energy conversion. At large cyclic amplitudes, more than 50% of input energy was converted into GPE. The energy conversion to GPE mechanism allows this type of traditional timber structure to resist large earthquakes. Thus, GPE should be taken into consideration in both the static and dynamic tests of traditional timber structures.