Study on the Performance of the Repair Material of Fine Clay Layer for Avalokitesvara Statue of Dule Temple

Abstract

ABSTRACT The eleven-faced statue of Avalokitesvara at Dule Temple in Tianjin is an important ancient clay sculpture in China, renowned for its size and historical importance. However, the statue currently exhibits surface cracks and the loss of the fine clay layer. Before restoration, it is necessary to study the performance of the fine clay layer and determine the composition ratio of the repair material. A series of experiments confirmed that the fibre used is oakum. The influence of sand and fibre content on its performance was analyzed. The results indicate that adding sand and fibre inhibits shrinkage, with higher fibre content resulting in a lower shrinkage rate. Fibre enhances the clay’s tensile strength, shifting the damage mode from brittle to plastic. However, excessive fibre reduces the bonding area between materials and weakens tensile strength. Accordingly, a repair material with approximately 30% sand content and 2% fibre is recommended for the fine clay layer.