Modal parameter identification and damping ratio estimation from the full-scale measurements of a typical Tibetan wooden structure

Tibetan heritage buildings have a high historical and cultural value. They have endured adverse environmental loadings over hundreds of years without significant damage. However, there are few reports on their structural characteristics under normal environmental loadings and their behavior under dynamic loadings. In this research, a typical Tibetan wooden wall-frame building is selected to study its dynamic characteristics. Field measurements of the structure were conducted under environmental excitation to collect acceleration responses. The stochastic subspace identification （SSI） method was adopted to calculate the structural modal parameters and obtain the out-of-plane vibration characteristics of the slab and frames. The results indicated that the wall-frame structure had a lower out-of-plane stiffness and greater in-plane stiffness due to the presence of stone walls. Due to poor identified damping ratio estimates from the SSI method, a method based on the variance upper bound was proposed to complement the existing variance lower bound method for estimating the modal damping ratio to address the significant damping variability obtained from different points and measurements. The feasibility of the proposed method was illustrated with the measured data from the floor slab of the structure. The variance lower and upper bound methods both provided consistent results compared to those from the traditional SSI method.

A feasibility study of using two-component polyurethane adhesive in constructing wooden structures

This investigation was conducted to determine the feasibility of using a two-component polyurethane （PUR） adhesive, with special waterproof properties, in constructing wooden structures. We designed and conducted tests to compare the shear strength and adhesion performance of PUR with polyvinyl acetate （PVAc） adhesive on block-shear specimens constructed of oriental beech （Fagus orientalis L.）, fir （Abies alba Mill.）, poplar （Populus deltoides Bartr.）, white oak （Quercus alba L.）, sycamore （Platanus orientalis L.） and white walnut （Juglans cinerea L.）. The values of the percentage of wood failure were also determined in specimens constructed with each adhesive. The highest shear strength values of both adhesives were obtained in specimens constructed of beech, while the lowest shear strength values were obtained in fir and poplar specimens. Average shear strength of the PUR adhesive was 16.5% higher than that of the PVAc adhesive. Specimens constructed of fir, poplar and sycamore were characterised by the highest percentages of wood failure, whereas the lowest average percentages of wood failure were obtained in beech and oak specimens. With the exception of oak specimens, there was no statistically significant difference between percentage of wood failure among the PUR and PVAc adhesives. Generally, the PUR adhesive showed an acceptable adhesion performance on wood materials used in our study.

Wooden Structures within the Context of Parametric Design: Pavilions and Seatings in Urban Landscape

Today,on the one hand,while the traditional design process continues,on the other hand,digital design systems along with advances in computer technologies continue to present designers with new and effective ideas.Parametric design is preferred by designers for its relationality,contributing toward versatility,ensuring flexibility,simplifying diversification,and for presenting programmatic solutions.As is seen in a number of areas,we have also begun to encounter the use of parametric designs produced with parametric design systems and wooden materials in urban landscaping.The purpose of this study is to examine the upper cover application and seating elements generated by taking advantage of parametric designs from wooden construction materials in urban landscaping areas,and examine the impact of wooden material characteristics while generating behavior and parametric structures of technologies.After researching parametric design and wooden material concepts,an attempt was made to reach conclusions through analyses conducted by examining parametric wooden designed pavilion and seating element specimens applied in various regions of the world.

Lateral shear performance of sheathed post-and-beam wooden structures with small panels

Sheathed post-and-beam wooden structures are distinct from light-wood structures.They allow for using sheathing panels that are smaller(0.91 m×1.82 m)than standard-sized panels(1.22 m×2.44 m or 2.44 m×2.44 m).Evidence indicates that nail spacing and panel thickness determine the lateral capacity of the wood frame shear walls.To verify the lateral shear performance of wood frame shear walls with smaller panels,we subjected 13 shear walls,measuring 0.91 m in width and 2.925 m in height,to a low-cycle cyclic loading test with three kinds of nail spacing and three panel thicknesses.A nonlinear numerical simulation analysis of the wall was conducted using ABAQUS finite element(FE)software,where a custom nonlinear spring element was used to simulate the sheathing-frame connection.The results indicate that the hysteretic performance of the walls was mainly determined by the hysteretic performance of the sheathing-frame connection.When same nail specifications were adopted,the stiffness and bearing capacity of the walls were inversely related to the nail spacing and directly related to the panel thickness.The shear wall remained in the elastic stage when the drift was 1/250 rad and ductility coefficients were all greater than 2.5,which satisfied the deformation requirements of residential structures.Based on the test and FE analysis results,the shear strength of the post-and-beam wooden structures with sheathed walls was determined.

Joinery and Structure:Cultural and Technical Comparison between Traditional Wooden Framing Systems in East Asia and Western Europe

Traditional wooden joinery is the craft of connecting wood pieces for buildings or producing utensils by utilizing only the geometry of the components and material properties of the wood,without other materials such as glue or metal connectors.In its thousands of years of tradition,this construction technique has achieved high accomplishment in both East Asian and European architectural civilizations.Although sharing the same basic principles,joinery techniques vary between regions and cultures,rooted in the geographical environment,available wood species and their material properties,characteristics of craftsmanship,tools,and structural systems.Wood framing systems from China,Japan,and Western Europe are selected for comparison to assess the relationship between wood joinery and other aspects of building technology.The main conclusions include:in East Asia,the building tradition pays great attention to the design and execution of joinery(sunmao榫卯),making it responsible for multiple functions including architectural mechanics and the stability of the entire frame,which leads to a broader role meant by the term“joint”itself,while in Europe joinery is treated as the“node”or literally“joint”of the structure.Although in both East Asia and Europe wooden joinery serves as an aesthetic factor of the structure,its expression in East Asia is subtle,veiled,and restrained,while in Europe it is explicit and direct.The most important lesson we learn from the study of traditional joinery technology is that it should be seen in the context of the building process as a whole,taking into account geographical environment,material resources,craftsmanship,tools,construction methods,structural form,and the structural system.

Construction Techniques of Wooden Dwelling Column Frame in Tibetan Regions of Yunnan Province, China

Column frame of folk dwellings with slope roof in Tibetan regions of Yunnan Province was studied. Through field investigation and surveying, column frame timber, main components and construction techniques were introduced. The research showed that column frame of slope-roof dwelling in Tibetan regions of Yunnan is a regional construction technique using timber as the major materials, tenon-and-mortise work as the major connection, characterized by excellent structural expandability, and shock resistance, but it has no quantitative technical support. Scientific and systemic study is needed to improve safeness and livability of local dwellings.

The Challenges of Designing a Wooden Beam of Composed Section

This work describes details about the challenges and solutions encountered in the timber structure beam. The choice for wood is due to the fact that it is a better material suited for environments with high salinity and, in this context, to reduce maintenance costs. The entire roof was supported only by four columns, which forced the side and frontal beams to exceed spans over 18 meters without intermediate supports. This was the most important challenge of the project： to find a section to the beam which can attend the ultimate limit state and serviceability in wood to the dimensions in project. The answer was clear： It would need to have composed section. A computational model was constructed using the finite element method in order to obtain the efforts on the structural elements. It is important to emphasize that the design of a wood structure requires not only knowledge, but creativity as well, to overcome the challenges posed by the distinctive needs to the detailing of this material. In addition to that, it requires special attention during the construction execution, because of the difficulty that the carpenters have to read the specific plans.

Techniques of Wallpaper(Biao Hu)in the Palace Museum:A Case Study of the Lodge of Bamboo Fragrance(Zhuxiang Guan)

Biao Hu was one of the eight famous traditional crafts in the late Qing dynasty.This skill involved decorating the interiors of ancient buildings such as ceilings,walls,and windows and creating burial objects.It was primarily used for wooden buildings in northern China during the early Qing dynasty.For example,there is white-patterned wallpaper in the Forbidden City utilizing both traditional and nontraditional patterns.Moreover,there was wallpaper with a special pattern in the Lodge of the Bamboo Fragrance(Zhuxiang Guan).Its structure and composition were studied via morphological observations and spectral analyses,the pigments and dyes were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrum(UPLC-MS).Traditional technology and exchanges between China and the West were discussed by the study of patterned wallpapers in other buildings of the Forbidden City.

Introspection on improper seismic retrofit of Basilica Santa Maria di Collemaggio after 2009 Italian earthquake

The 2009 L’Aquila, Italy earthquake highlighted the seismic vulnerability of historic masonry building structures due to improper ＂strengthening＂ retrofit work that has been done in the last 50 years. Italian seismic standards recommend the use of traditional reinforcement techniques such as replacing the original wooden roof structure with new reinforced concrete （RC） or steel elements, inserting RC tie-beams in the masonry and new RC floors, and using RC jacketing on the shear walls. The L’Aquila earthquake revealed the numerous limitations of these interventions, because they led to increased seismic forces （due to greater additional weight） and to deformation incompatibilities of the incorporated elements with the existing masonry walls. This paper provides a discussion of technical issues pertaining to the seismic retrofit of the Santa Maria di Collemaggio Basilica and in particular, the limitations of the last （2000） retrofit intervention. Considerable damage was caused to the church because of questionable actions and incorrect and improper technical choices.