Shaking table tests of Dou-gong brackets on Chinese traditional wooden structure: A case study of Tianwang hall, Luzhi, and Ming Dynasty

Abstract

Using the Dou-gong brackets on the column of the Tianwang Palace in the Baosheng Temple from the Ming Dynasty as the research object, an experimental study was conducted on 15 groups of shaking table tests of a full-scale Dou-gong specimen made of Douglas fir. Through the analysis of dynamic magnification coefficient trends, the process of displacement characteristics of the Dou-gong in response to changes of vibration, and the rotary and sliding displacement values for each part of the Dou-gong at the largest deformation moments, major conclusions were drawn as follows. A higher vibration excitation intensity input resulted in a stronger damping effect of the Dou-gong model. The maximum deformation of each member had a strong correlation with the maximum deformation of the whole structure, among which the rotary deformation of the Lu-dou and Hua-gong occupied a dominant position. The Hua-gong with Ang, one special part of the Dou-gong, had relatively weak connection nodes during the tests; therefore more attention and relevant reinforcement measures should be taken on this part in the maintenance and conservation of cultural relics.