Experimental Assessment on the Hysteretic Behavior of a Full‐Scale Traditional Chinese Timber Structure Using a Synchronous Loading Technique

Abstract

In traditional Chinese timber structures, few tie beams were used between columns, and the column base was placed directly on a stone base. In order to study the hysteretic behavior of such structures, a full-scale model was established. e model size was determined according to the requirements of an eighth grade material system specified in the architectural treatise Ying-zao-fa-shi written during the Song Dynasty. In light of the vertical lift and drop of the test model during horizontal reciprocating motions, the horizontal low-cycle reciprocating loading experiments were conducted using a synchronous loading technique. By analyzing the load-displacement hysteresis curves, envelope curves, deformation capacity, energy dissipation, and change in stiffness under different vertical loads, it is found that the timber frame exhibits obvious signs of self-restoring and favorable plastic deformation capacity. As the horizontal displacement increases, the equivalent viscous damping coefficient generally declines first and then increases. At the same time, the stiffness degrades rapidly first and then decreases slowly. Increasing vertical loading will improve the deformation, energy-dissipation capacity, and stiffness of the timber frame.

Experimental study on seismic performance of Chinese traditional mortise and tenon joints with different lengths that tenons pull out of mortise

“…Dutu et al (2016), Vieux-Champagne et al (2014), and Xie et al (2019) investigated the seismic performance of timber frame systems with infill by cyclic load tests. Wu et al (2018), Fang et al (2001), and Shi et al (2018) conducted experimental and numerical simulation studies on traditional Chinese timber frame structures to investigate their stiffness, damage modes, and other properties. Ali et al (2012;, Yeo et al (2016), and Kaori (2019) investigated the dynamic performance of timber frame structures through experiments.…”

The Influence of the Damage of Mortise-Tenon Joint on the Cyclic Performance of the Traditional Chinese Timber Frame

“…Xue et al [3,4] carried out some pseudo-static tests and shaking table tests on timber structures with mortise-tenon joints and found that most of the input energy is dissipated by the mortise-tenon joints. Shi et al [5] used a synchronous loading technique to study the hysteresis behavior of a full-scale Chinese timber structure and revealed the effects of vertical loads and gaps in the mortise-tenon joint. Some tests on the timber frame with straight mortise-tenon joints [6,7] or with dovetail joints [8][9][10][11] have been conducted and the pulling-out of the tenon were frequently observed.…”