'Three strong and three weak’ seismic-resistant wisdom of ancient Chinese wooden structures

Ancient Chinese wooden structures exhibit remarkable organic characteristics, reflected in their highly integrated construction and exceptional seismic performance. To explore the seismic-resistant wisdom inherent in ancient wooden structures, this study provided an in-depth interpretation of traditional construction techniques and carried out quasi-static and dynamic tests on two timber structure models designed with characteristic Song dynasty architectural features. The structural characteristics of key joints and their deformation behavior were clarified, the energy dissipation mechanism and its correlation with seismic performance were analyzed, and the stiffness differences among various structural layers and their collaborative seismic-resisting mechanism were revealed. The results demonstrate that the ancient wooden structures possess the advantages of “weak connections yet strong deformability,” “weak energy dissipation yet strong seismic resistance,” and “weak resonance yet strong synergy.” These findings systematically reveal the seismic mechanisms of ancient wooden structures and offer valuable insights for the seismic design and improvement of modern buildings.