Earthen Ruins Research Articles

Retracted: Composite Nano-Calcium-Based Material for Reinforcement and Protection of Earthen Ruins in Humid Environment

Retracted: Composite Nano-Calcium-Based Material for Reinforcement and Protection of Earthen Ruins in Humid Environment

Study on Barriers of Water Salt Transfers in Earthen Sites by Plastic-Coated Sand

Under the action of unidirectional water migration, museum soil sites generally encounter erosion through dry cracking, salt enrichment, etc. In this paper, the earthen site of the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum of the First Emperor of Qin was used as the research object, and the “hydrophobic” property of coated sand was proposed to prevent water migration and salt accumulation. Through the soil column experiment of water salt migration and the HYDRUS software numerical simulation, the water salt migration law of the soil in the heritage site under different conditions and the characteristics of water and salt resistance of plastic-coated sand were studied. The results showed that the salt damage on the earthen ruins was mainly due to the horizontal and vertical migration of water and salt in soil. After embedding the coated sand layer into the soil environment under the earthen site, the vertical and horizontal migration of water and salt in the soil can be completely prevented due to precipitation and groundwater. The coated sand protection technology and method proposed in this paper use materials similar to those of the earthen, and provide a feasible method for the protection of cultural relics in our country.

Composite Nano-Calcium-Based Material for Reinforcement and Protection of Earthen Ruins in Humid Environment

China is an ancient civilization. History has left us with a rich cultural heritage, of which ancient cultural sites account for a large proportion. As far as the current scientific research and technology are concerned, due to the particularity and complexity of the humid environment, the protection of ancient cultural sites in the humid environment is still an important topic before us. The research topic involved in this article is about the application of composite nano-calcium-based materials for the reinforcement and protection of soil sites in humid environments. Combined with the development of the research content of this article, the research thinking of the thesis is also adjusted accordingly, making the analysis and solution of the problem clearer. The first is a conceptual study, expounding the relevant concepts in this article. The main purpose is to sort out and study the reinforcement and protection measures and methods of relevant sites and ancient cultural sites, as well as the classification, characteristics, and protection value of ancient cultural sites. Through the analysis and research of these aspects, the composite nano-calcium bases for ancient cultural sites in the subsequent humid environment is proposed based on material basic information. The second is a descriptive research, qualitative and quantitative analysis of humid environment. On the basis of summarizing previous researches, this paper mainly conducts qualitative and quantitative analysis on the judgment of humid environment, the influence mechanism on ancient cultural sites, and the main diseases. Then, it is analytical research, studying the main diseases and causes of the underground palace site in the engineering case, and it is concluded that it is mainly affected by the combined effect of the characteristics of the site’s soil and the environment. Through the collection of data from the site survey, field test, and indoor experiment of the underground palace site, the preservation status of the site is collected, and the disease problems faced by the site were analyzed, making it more difficult to protect. The main problem facing the protection of soil relics in humid environment, that is, the research focus, is the research on the development and applicability of reinforcement protection materials. This article attempts to explore the protective effect of composite nano-calcium-based materials on wet sites. Practical research was conducted to verify the feasibility of composite nano-calcium-based materials in practice through indoor site soil simulation. After the completion of a series of experiments, the applicability and compatibility of the composite nano-calcium-based material to strengthen the wet site soil was verified through data analysis, data collection, and mechanism discussion. The experimental results show that the sample with a solid content of 0.4% composite nano-calcium matrix has better salt and alkali resistance. Moreover, the unconfined compressive strength growth rate of 0.4% of the samples has a qualitative improvement over other solid content samples.

Microbial diversity of archaeological ruins of Liangzhu City and its correlation with environmental factors

The official listing of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City as a World Heritage site on July 6, 2019 marked a new milestone in the conservation of earthen ruins. Nevertheless, the problem of microbial deterioration at the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City should not be ignored. To address the conservation issues for earthen archaeological ruins, we collected microbial and soil samples from different sites at various seasons, for microbial diversity analysis and correlation analysis with soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that diversity of prokaryotes at the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City appeared significant temporal and spatial differences, while diversity of eukaryotes significantly changed with varied geographic locations rather than seasons. Significant correlations were detected between microbial diversity and soil properties, including water content, pH, nutrients as well as metal ions (in particular for calcium, magnesium, and aluminum). All these properties were essential for soil retention. Overall, microorganisms not only affect the appearance of the sites, but also have other potential hazards to the earthen ruins. Our study provided fundamental data on microbial diversity and soi properties of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City at temporal and spatial scale, which would further contribute to preventive conservation of earthen ruins in humid regions.

Experimental Study on Restoration Materials of Newly Earthen Ruins under Different Slaking Times.

The newly repaired Kaifeng City Wall has serious cracks, shedding and other issues on the surface, which constitute a significant problem. It is of great significance for the restoration of Kaifeng City Wall to explore the repair materials and techniques suitable for Kaifeng City Wall. The pH, particle gradation, compressive strength and SEM were tested on soil samples with different lime and MgO contents under different slaking times. With the increase of slaking time, the pH value first increased and then decreased. The relationship between pH value and strength showed three stages. The strength of lime-containing soil samples increased first, then decreased and then increased. The MgO content of soil samples showed an opposite trend. The particle gradation was significantly improved with increasing aging time. The main reason for the reduction of soil strength is the calcium carbonate crystals and magnesite microcracks produced by lime and MgO in the later stage of slaking.

Dynamic Characterization of a Reinforcement Rammed Wall for the Earthen Ruins

In recent years, the earthen ruins’ cultural relics have aroused people’s extensive attention, and the protection of them is more and more urgent. The aim of the paper is to present the essential results of an ongoing research on a reinforced rammed earthen wall in the Suoyang ancient city (Guazhou, China). A variety of methods to combining aerial survey, dynamic test, and numerical model is provided with the purpose of estimating the structural characteristics of the ancient rammed wall. An aerial geometric survey based on high-resolution images made by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been approached to acquiring a 3D model. An ambient vibration test has been adopted by using vibration pick-ups. The experimental data were dealt with the operational modal analysis (OMA) followed by comparing with the numerical results delivered by the model. Meanwhile, the results showed the maximum displacements and corresponding positions of the structure under the three modes by the finite element model (FEM).

Application of improved enzyme induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP) technology in surface protection of earthen sites

Tabia is a common building material in ancient China. At present, there are few studies on protective materials for tabia ancient buildings, and the existing protective materials of earthen ruins have many problems. To study protective materials that are compatible with the tabia and have superior performance, sucrose and skimmed milk powder improved enzyme induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP) technology was applied to the surface protection of tabia relics. The results indicate that the effect of EICP modified by sucrose is better than that of skimmed milk powder. After being treated with 5% sucrose -EICP material, the surface hardness, salt corrosion resistance, weather resistance and water repellency of tabia samples can be increased by 12.7%, 550%, 300% and 512% respectively. The reason is that sucrose regulates the growth morphology of calcium carbonate crystals and provides nucleation sites for them. Moreover, sucrose has certain viscosity, which promotes the accumulation and cementation of calcium carbonate, and finally forms a dense protective layer on the surface of the tabia. Compared with loose calcium carbonate crystal formed by EICP treatment, the protective effect of sucrose improved EICP is significantly improved. Sucrose modified EICP technology can be used as an effective method for the protection of tabia relics and even ancient buildings.

Identification of Modal Parameters for Reinforcement of Walls in Earthen Ruins

The protection of earthen sites plays an important role in the context of preservation of cultural heritage, especially in the inheritance and promotion of history and culture. The aim of the paper is to present the essential results of an ongoing research on a reinforced rammed earthen wall in Suoyang City (Guazhou, China). The wall vibrations caused by ambient actions were analyzed using the stochastic subspace algorithm to estimate the modal parameters of the wall. The frequencies of the first three orders are 3.566 Hz, 5.003 Hz, and 6.250 Hz, and the corresponding modes are first‐order transverse bending, second‐order left and right torsion, and third‐order vertical bending, respectively. Then, according to the data of elastic modulus obtained in the lab, the finite element calculation is carried out, and referring to the results of field measurement, the revised elastic modulus value is 205.90 MPa. It is worth mentioning that the revised value is significantly improved from the original laboratory value, and it is also indicated that the seismic performance of the reinforced wall has been significantly improved. The present work is expected to provide a theoretical basis for reinforcement, protection, and seismic control of earthen ruins.

Experimental study on impregnation and consolidation effects of modified polyvinyl alcohol solution for coarse-grained soils: a case study on the Subashi Buddhist Temple Ruins of China

The Subashi Buddhist Temple Ruins, which contain a lot of coarse-grained soils, have been severely damaged by surface weathering. Modified polyvinyl alcohol (SH) which can improve the mechanical properties of fine-grained earthen ruins has never been reported in the protection of coarse-grained earthen ruins, and thus, it is of great practical significance to investigate the impregnation and consolidation effects of SH solution on coarse-grained soils. First, the characteristic changes obtained by SH impregnation with respect to consolidation radius, impregnation rate, impregnation time, and cumulative impregnation were analysed for soil specimens with different dry densities and grain gradations. Then, disintegration, drying–wetting cycle, and freeze–thaw cycle experiments were carried out, and the results of these experiments were analysed. Finally, the impregnation and consolidation effects of the SH solution were evaluated together. The feasibility of protecting the Subashi Buddhist Temple Ruins with SH by impregnation was studied, and it is suggested that the methods of surface spraying and borehole impregnation for anti-weathering should be combined to protect these ruins.

A Study of Pattern Prediction in the Monitoring Data of Earthen Ruins with the Internet of Things.

An understanding of the changes of the rammed earth temperature of earthen ruins is important for protection of such ruins. To predict the rammed earth temperature pattern using the air temperature pattern of the monitoring data of earthen ruins, a pattern prediction method based on interesting pattern mining and correlation, called PPER, is proposed in this paper. PPER first finds the interesting patterns in the air temperature sequence and the rammed earth temperature sequence. To reduce the processing time, two pruning rules and a new data structure based on an R-tree are also proposed. Correlation rules between the air temperature patterns and the rammed earth temperature patterns are then mined. The correlation rules are merged into predictive rules for the rammed earth temperature pattern. Experiments were conducted to show the accuracy of the presented method and the power of the pruning rules. Moreover, the Ming Dynasty Great Wall dataset was used to examine the algorithm, and six predictive rules from the air temperature to rammed earth temperature based on the interesting patterns were obtained, with the average hit rate reaching 89.8%. The PPER and predictive rules will be useful for rammed earth temperature prediction in protection of earthen ruins.

Mud Brick Metaphysics and the Preservation of Earthen Ruins

In the conservation of built heritage, earthen ruins rank as one of, if not the most, intractable of problems to be confronted. Lacking the very architectural devices originally in place to combat and control weathering, earthen ruins face rapid deterioration without constant remedial and preventive conservation. Often it is the enormous mass of many ancient earthen ruins that explain their persistence; however, even these will collapse over time from differential erosion, or eventually stabilize as formless lumps. The impossible demands of simultaneously preserving architectural form and fabric (materiality) challenge the archaeologist and conservation professional who attempt to manage both for temporary and permanent display.

Research on Collapse Failure Process and Mechanism of Earthen Sites under the Action of Capillary Water

Due to the particularity of the ancient city wall, the collapse damage of ancient city wall earthen ruins is different from general soil slope failure. Through on-site observations and theoretical analysis, collapse failure process and mechanism of ancient city wall earthen sites under the action of capillary water is studied, and protection measures are proposed. Collapse failure process of earthen sites under the action of capillary water has the characteristics of particularity, diversity and stage. Capillary water reduces the stability of ancient city wall by changing the soil physical properties, chemical and ice split role. Finally, the effect of capillary water is illustrated through a specific project example.

The Experimental Study on Consolidation of RTV for Wet-Area Earthen Ruins in Southwest China

It is a worldwide difficulty to preserve earth monument in wet area. To solve this problem, Physical Chemistry Institute of Zhejiang University in China developed a consolidation agent named RTV (organopolysiloxanes+tetraethylorthosilicate). But the study on this consolidation agent is still in its initial stage at present for most of its experimental researches are limited to east china and no research reports aimed at wet area in southwest China were found so far. To check out the efficiency of this consolidation agent for earth in wet area, southwest China, a consolidating experiment was conducted by applying this consolidation agent to soil samples from kiln Qionglai earthen monuments located in outskirt of Chengdu city, the capital of Sichuan province. In this experiment, the changes of weight, permeating speed and depth and compressive strength of specimens after consolidating were investigated and compared with those for northwest area. The study shows that RTV consolidation agent developed by Physical Chemistry Institute of Zhejiang University is also effective to a certain degree for the earth monument in wet area, southwest China.

The Experimental Study on Consolidation of Acrylic Non-Aqueous Dispersion for Wet-Area Earthen Ruins in Southwest China

It is a worldwide difficulty to preserve earth monument in wet area. To solve this problem, professor Zhou Shuanglin, an expert of earth monument preserving with College of Archaeology and Museum, Peking University, developed a consolidation agent named acrylic non-aqueous dispersion. But the study on this consolidation agent is still in its initial stage at present for most of its experimental researches are limited to northwest china and no research reports aimed at wet area in southwest China were found so far. To check out the efficiency of this consolidation agent in wet area, southwest China, a consolidating experiment was conducted by applying this consolidation agent to soil samples from kiln Qionglai earthen monuments located in outskirt of Chengdu city, the capital of Sichuan province. In this experiment, the changes of weight, permeating speed and short-term water resistance of specimens after consolidating were investigated and compared with those for northwest area. The study shows that acrylic non-aqueous dispersion consolidation agent developed by professor Zhou Shuanglin is also effective to a certain degree for the earth monument in wet area, southwest China.

The Experimental Study on Consolidating Effect of Acrylic Non-Aqueous Dispersion for Earthen Ruins in Southwest China’s Moist Areas

It is a worldwide difficulty to preserve earth monument in wet area. To solve this problem, professor Zhou Shuanglin, an expert of earth monument preserving with College of Archaeology and Museum, Peking University, developed a consolidation agent named acrylic non-aqueous dispersion. But the study on this consolidation agent is still in its initial stage at present for most of its experimental researches are limited to northwest china and no research reports aimed at wet area in southwest China were found so far. To check out the efficiency of this consolidation agent in wet area, southwest China, a consolidating experiment was conducted by applying this consolidation agent to soil samples from kiln Qionglai earthen monuments located in outskirt of Chengdu city, the capital of Sichuan province. In this experiment, seeping speed, the changes of compressive strength and short-term water resistance of specimens after consolidating were investigated and compared with those for northwest area. The study shows that acrylic non-aqueous dispersion consolidation agent developed by professor Zhou Shuanglin is also effective to a certain degree for the earth monument in wet area, southwest China.

Laboratory experimental study of infrared imaging technology detecting the conservation effect of ancient earthen sites (Jiaohe Ruins) in China

As a new kind of inorganic reinforced material, potassium silicate can greatly improve the mechanical strength and the anti-wind erosion ability of ruins' soil in arid areas after being reinforced. The research developed a test device and test method of determining the thermal conductivity of earthen ruins' soil. The disturbed soil taken from the site of Jiaohe Ruins was made into soil specimens, and then, to study the reinforcement effect PS has on the thermal conductivity of ruins' soil by a thermal conductivity determination test and a laboratory model test. Test analysis showed that the thermal conductivity of PS reinforced specimens was reduced, furthermore, the larger the PS concentration, the smaller the thermal conductivity. Because PS decreased the soil's thermal conductivity, the heat transfer process of the reinforced soil was changed, and when external temperature had a change, the PS reinforced soil had a slower response to temperature than the unreinforced soil. From the analysis above, it is known that PS reinforced soil can slow down the physical weathering caused by temperature difference. And this viewpoint provides very useful scientific basis for studying the mechanism of PS and the earthen ruins' soil in northwest China arid regions.

Effect of Perma-Zyme on Properties of Tabia Used to Protect Ancient Earthen Ruins

Perma-Zyme is an enzymatic stabilizer. To test the feasibility of adding Perma-Zyme to tabia used to protect ancient earthen ruins, the 28d unconfined compression strength, permeability and color-difference were tested to determine the difference between the tabia and tabia treated with Perma-Zyme. The experimental results show that the 28d unconfined compression strengths of specimens treated with Perma-Zyme are higher than those without Perma-Zyme, and the color-difference(DE*) between the tabia and tabia mixed Perma-zyme is larger than 3(suggested color tolerance Chinese standardized GB/T 15608-2006), and the permeability coefficient of tabia mixed Perma-Zyme is smaller than that without Perma-Zyme, i.e., has better impermeability. Box dimension values of SEM images(with different scale bars) of samples were computed by box-counting method. Box dimension values of SEM images of the same sample are different on different scale bars. The analysis shows that SEM microstructure of the tabia sample treated with Perma-Zyme is finer and denser than the one without Perma-Zyme.

100 Years of Site Maintenance and Repair: Conservation of Earthen Archaeological Sites in the American Southwest

The conservation of earthen sites poses challenging questions regarding conservation methods and historic preservation. The National Park Service and other site managers have to strike a balance between conserving the sites while presenting them to the public: there is no ideal choice. It is impossible to prevent a ruin from continuing to deteriorate without changing its appearance or its status as a ruin. Therefore, the conservation of historic earthen ruins should perhaps be more appropriately thought of as a process which slows the pace of decay, rather than suspending or preventing it.This paper looks at over one hundred years (from 1889 to the present) of site conservation at a variety of earthen historic and archaeological sites in the American Southwest. In each case, the National Park Service manages and treats the earthen ruins. The main categories of conservation techniques, and the preservation questions that these techniques raise, are examined along with their advantages and disadvantages.

A programme for the conservation of architectural plasters in earthen ruins in the American Southwest: Fort Union National Monument, New Mexico, USA

Plasters constitute an important component of many ruined architectural and archaeological sites. Methods for their in situ conservation have lagged far behind the field treatment of other materials due to their ephemeral nature and the lack of programmatic laboratory and field research. A preservation strategy involving documentation, stabilization, interpretation and maintenance offers a methodological approach adaptable to most contexts. A pilot conservation programme is described for the stabilization and interpretation of the lime plasters within the nineteenth-century adobe ruins of Fort Union National Monument in New Mexico. Methods of documentation, emergency stabilization, injection hydraulic lime grouting and mortar repairs are described.