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.
Authors
- Jie Zhou
- Cheng Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1053-5564)
Institutions
- Twitter (United States) (US)
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
- 0.00