A Simulation-Driven Digital Twin Framework for Parametric Design of Wing Corner Structures in Traditional Chinese Architecture Using Dynamo

Heritage conservation of traditional Chinese timber-framed architecture faces a dual challenge: the imminent loss of craftsmanship knowledge transmitted through master-apprentice traditions, and the progressive degradation and deformation of wooden components caused by environmental exposure and repeated restoration interventions. Among its key structural elements, the wing corner is one of the most iconic assemblies in traditional timber architecture. It exhibits complex geometric characteristics, including bi-directional curvature, intricate mortise-and-tenon joints, and significant regional variations between northern and southern building traditions. Existing Scan-to-BIM approaches can only generate non-editable static mesh models, which are insufficient for renovation simulation and structural performance assessment. Parametric modeling techniques, which encode construction rules from historical treatises into computational representations, provide a promising alternative. This study proposes a component-level parametric framework implemented in Dynamo, establishing a parameter-driven four-stage modeling workflow to generate two typologically distinct wing corner forms: the rigid northern official style governed by the Yingzao Fashi, and the flexible southern garden style governed by the Yingzao Fayuan. Validation using case studies of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Dianchun Yi Pavilion demonstrates that the proposed framework reproduces wing corner geometry with sub-centimeter accuracy, providing a reusable technical approach for HBIM-based digital reconstruction of historic timber architecture.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advances in Complex Systems
Published
2026-06-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1142/s1793962326500418
Primary Topic
3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

A Simulation-Driven Digital Twin Framework for Parametric Design of Wing Corner Structures in Traditional Chinese Architecture Using Dynamo

Jie Zhou, Cheng Zhang
Advances in Complex Systems
3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
article

A Simulation-Driven Digital Twin Framework for Parametric Design of Wing Corner Structures in Traditional Chinese Architecture Using Dynamo

Jie Zhou, Cheng Zhang
article en

Abstract

Heritage conservation of traditional Chinese timber-framed architecture faces a dual challenge: the imminent loss of craftsmanship knowledge transmitted through master-apprentice traditions, and the progressive degradation and deformation of wooden components caused by environmental exposure and repeated restoration interventions. Among its key structural elements, the wing corner is one of the most iconic assemblies in traditional timber architecture. It exhibits complex geometric characteristics, including bi-directional curvature, intricate mortise-and-tenon joints, and significant regional variations between northern and southern building traditions. Existing Scan-to-BIM approaches can only generate non-editable static mesh models, which are insufficient for renovation simulation and structural performance assessment. Parametric modeling techniques, which encode construction rules from historical treatises into computational representations, provide a promising alternative. This study proposes a component-level parametric framework implemented in Dynamo, establishing a parameter-driven four-stage modeling workflow to generate two typologically distinct wing corner forms: the rigid northern official style governed by the Yingzao Fashi, and the flexible southern garden style governed by the Yingzao Fayuan. Validation using case studies of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Dianchun Yi Pavilion demonstrates that the proposed framework reproduces wing corner geometry with sub-centimeter accuracy, providing a reusable technical approach for HBIM-based digital reconstruction of historic timber architecture.

Advances in Complex Systems
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3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
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