Finite element analysis of the mechanical performance and degradation characteristics of Tang Dynasty palace-style timber frame

The Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) palace-style timber frame represents one of the earliest preserved architectural forms in China. To evaluate its mechanical performance and degradation characteristics, a full-solid-element finite element model was developed based on the pseudo-static testing of a single-room timber frame, using the East Main Hall of Foguang Temple as a prototype. Furthermore, multiple timber frame models of varying scales and under different stress conditions were established to analyze global and local stress distributions. Stress distributions under varied loading conditions showed that increasing vertical loads amplify frame deformation and stress magnitudes, with high-stress regions concentrated in the puzuo layer, while single-span frames exhibit significant stress only when horizontal displacement effects on non-loaded spans are <5%. This study quantifies historical timber structures' load-bearing responses to complex stress states, supporting conservation and mechanical property research.