Wind effects on Chinese traditional timber buildings in complex terrain: The case of Baoguo Temple

Abstract

Traditional timber buildings are one of the most precious types of architectural heritage. These heritage buildings suffer from various natural hazards every year, including wind storms, floods, and earthquakes. The existing studies on traditional timber buildings generally focus on seismic performance, while the wind-related studies are limited. Specifically, there is no previous research on the wind effects of the surrounding environment on historic timber buildings.Based on a case study of the 1000-year-old Baoguo Temple, this paper intends to (1) evaluate the extent to which the surrounding buildings of the main hall and the hilly terrain affect the wind environment in the temple with CFD simulation, (2) validate the CFD simulation and extract wind pressure data, and (3) calculate the structural responses of the main hall using FEM. The research proposed a methodology for evaluating the wind effects of surrounding buildings and the hilly terrain on ancient timber buildings with CFD simulation. Moreover, a numerical approach employing FEM analysis is put forward for predicting the structure response of ancient timber buildings to wind hazards, considering the actual structural deterioration. Resultsincluding wind pressures, wind speeds, and streamlines obtained from the CFD simulation, as well as vibration mode shapes, accelerations, and displacements calculated by FEM are presented. The CFD simulation result points out the significant influence of the upstream hill's elevation and surrounding structures on the wind environment. The FEM analysis presents the structural response of the building with inclined columns and various support stiffnesses using the obtained wind pressure as load input. In its current status, the main hall of the Baoguo temple would exceed the elastic deformation limit, and rectifying the column incline would effectively minimize wind-induced damage in case of hazards.