Experimental study on seismic performance of the original and reinforced inclined dougong-fork column in the Yingxian Wood Pagoda

Abstract Ancient wooden architecture serves as invaluable repositories of historical and cultural heritage. Among their critical components, the dougong -fork column plays a pivotal role, yet it is susceptible to inclination or collapse resulting from material degradation and external load actions. Consequently, there is a compelling need to investigate the seismic performance of the structure. Moreover, a reinforcement method which is based on the principle of minimal intervention is proposed, involving the addition of a vertical auxiliary column positioned posterior to the existing column. To evaluate this method, full-scale models of the inclined dougong -fork column with and without the reinforcement method were constructed and subjected to pseudo-static cyclic loading tests. The analysis encompassed the damage mechanism, deformation characteristics, reinforcement mechanism, and seismic performance of the current model (CM) and the reinforced model (FM). The results indicated that vertical cracks in the fork arms were induced by the restrictive effect of the Zhutou-Fang , while local embedded pressure deformations in the Shuatou-Fang occurred due to the embedment effect of the fork column. Furthermore, under equivalent horizontal displacement, the FM exhibited an energy-dissipating capacity 1.23–3.09 times greater and a stiffness 1.67–2.13 times higher than the CM. These findings provide significant theoretical insights and practical guidance for the conservation and reinforcement of ancient wooden architecture.