To effectively enhance the seismic performance of traditional Chinese timber structures, this study proposes a reinforcement method utilizing friction dampers. Based on the working mechanism of friction dampers and the extended discrete element theory, an analytical model for timber structures equipped with these dampers was developed and validated through shake table tests. Subsequently, dynamic analyses were conducted to systematically evaluate the enhanced seismic energy dissipation capacity of the ancient timber structures by the reinforcement of friction dampers. The friction coefficient (μ), bolt pre-tension strain (ε), and action distance (l) were selected as key parameters. A multi-objective optimization function was constructed using the weighted sum method, enabling a multi-objective parameter optimization analysis for the friction dampers to identify the optimal parameter combination under specific conditions. The results indicate that the established extended discrete element model effectively simulates the dynamic characteristics of the structure. The installation of friction dampers significantly enhanced the structure’s energy dissipation capacity and substantially reduced the peak displacement. However, due to the initial stiffness introduced by the dampers, the lateral stiffness of the column frame increased markedly, leading to a significant amplification of the acceleration response, with a maximum increase in peak acceleration reaching 77%. The multi-objective optimization analysis revealed that with weighting coefficients λ_a = λ_b = 0.5, the optimal damper parameter combination is μ = 0.36, ε = 102 με, and l = 268 mm. Under these conditions, the structural displacement response decreased by 38.5%, while the acceleration response increased by 93.7%. It is noted that the derived optimal design solutions are pertinent to the specific structural typology and ground motions considered.

This study evaluates the seismic performance of the East Main Hall of Foguang Temple in Shanxi, focusing on the impact of wood property degradation on structural stability. A dynamic model of the hall is developed using the discrete element method (DEM) and Wallstat 5.1.3 software, simulating seismic responses under three conditions: intact wood properties, 0.85-fold reduction, and 0.75-fold reduction in wood properties. Peak ground acceleration (PGA) is used as the seismic intensity measure, and the maximum inter-story drift angle of the column frame is selected as the structural response parameter. Incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) is applied to generate seismic vulnerability curves to assess the influence of wood degradation on seismic performance. The results show that the DEM model’s natural frequency (2.40 Hz) is only 2.13% different from the code-estimated value (2.35 Hz), confirming the model’s reliability. As wood degradation increases, the maximum inter-story drift angle grows significantly, with the 0.75-fold reduction model exhibiting larger displacements than the intact and 0.85-fold reduction models. Seismic vulnerability curves indicate that wood degradation accelerates damage progression, with the 0.75-fold reduction model showing an 8.74% higher collapse probability under a PGA of 1 g.

Modern Chinese traditional-style buildings (MCTBs) preserve the beam–column –construction of historical architecture, but the irregularity of joints continues to constrain their seismic performance. To enhance the energy-dissipation capacity of these joints, viscous dampers were installed at the Que-Ti braces (cantilever corbels beneath beam ends) of beam–column joints. Six 1/2.6-scale specimens were designed and tested under periodic dynamic loading. The experimental results indicate that the installation of viscous dampers significantly improved the failure modes by delaying the formation of plastic hinges at beam ends, as well as the initiation of base material cracking and weld fracture. After damper installation, the joint strength increased by 18–46%, and the improvement was more pronounced in double beam–column joints. A finite element model was established in ABAQUS to investigate the effects of axial load ratio, damping coefficient and damper length on joint strength, hysteretic energy dissipation, and damper mechanical response. The results revealed that the axial load ratio has a limited influence on the overall joint strength and damper contribution. Increasing the damping coefficient significantly enhances the joint hysteretic energy dissipation and peak damper force, exhibiting an approximately linear relationship. The damper length has a minor influence on joint strength, but a longer damper slightly increases the hysteretic energy dissipation and equivalent viscous damping, while the maximum damper displacement is mainly governed by the damper length. Similar damper contributions are observed in single beam–column and double beam–column joints, indicating stable and reliable energy-dissipation behavior. The proposed numerical approach can predict the axial deformation, velocity, and force demands of dampers under various loading conditions. In addition, preliminary design recommendations for irregular steel joints with supplemental viscous dampers in MCTBs were developed based on ancient Chinese architectural literature and refined through combined experimental observations and finite element analyses (FEA).

To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of seismic repair for prefabricated single-beam column joints in modern Chinese traditional-style buildings (MCTBs), low-cycle reversed loading tests were conducted on two original joints with different T-stub web thicknesses and one repaired joint. A repair strategy was proposed in which damaged T-stub connectors were removed and replaced with welded end-plate connections. The seismic behavior of the joints, including failure mode, hysteretic response, skeleton curve, stiffness degradation, ductility, energy dissipation capacity, and seismic performance comparison between the original and repaired joints, was systematically evaluated. In addition, a refined finite element model was established using ABAQUS and validated against the experimental results to investigate the stress distribution, deformation characteristics, and load-transfer mechanism of the joints. The results indicate that damage in the original joints was mainly concentrated in the T-stub connection region, while the beam and column members remained essentially intact, demonstrating an effective damage-control mechanism. Increasing the T-stub web thickness improved the load-carrying capacity, stiffness, and ductility of the joints. After repair, the load-transfer mechanism changed from a blind-bolted T-stub connection to a welded end-plate connection, resulting in a different damage evolution pattern and failure mode. Nevertheless, the repaired joint exhibited stable hysteretic behavior, satisfactory deformation capacity, and favorable energy dissipation performance. Compared with the original joint, the repaired specimen achieved a moment capacity comparison ratio of approximately 116%, stiffness comparison ratios exceeding 120%, and an energy dissipation comparison ratio of approximately 148%. The finite element results agreed well with the experimental observations and further revealed the evolution of stress concentration regions and load-transfer paths before and after repair. The present experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed repair method for rehabilitating damaged joints while maintaining satisfactory seismic performance without replacing the primary beam and column members. The proposed repair strategy therefore provides a practical and efficient solution for the post-earthquake rehabilitation of prefabricated joints in MCTBs.

Steel Chinese traditional-style buildings (SCTBs) retain the architectural features of ancient Chinese buildings and reflect traditional cultural and regional characteristics. However, their beam–column joints have complex configurations, and conventional welded connections face construction constraints in projects involving archaeological site protection. Blind-bolted T-stub connections provide a prefabricated connection solution for SCTBs. Previous studies have mainly focused on blind-bolted connections in conventional steel structures, while research on such joints in SCTBs remains limited, particularly regarding their restoring force models. To address this gap, low-cycle reversed loading tests were conducted on four blind-bolted T-stub beam–column joint specimens for SCTBs, including two double-beam joints and two single-beam joints. The experimental data were analyzed to evaluate the failure modes, hysteretic responses, skeleton curves, and stiffness degradation characteristics. The results showed that damage was mainly concentrated in the T-stub connection region. With increasing loading amplitude, bolt slip, gap opening, and bending deformation of the T-stub flanges progressively developed, followed by crack initiation and fracture at the T-stub flange–web junction, while no obvious damage was observed in the beams, columns, or joint core regions. The specimens exhibited stable spindle-shaped hysteretic loops, and the double-beam joints showed fuller hysteretic responses and higher moment resistance than the single-beam joints. The absolute ultimate moments ranged from 113.17 to 207.82 kN·m, and the ductility coefficients ranged from 2.27 to 3.96. Based on the experimental results, a restoring force model was developed using a normalized trilinear backbone curve, stiffness degradation relationships, and hysteretic path rules. The model reasonably reproduced the overall cyclic response and positive–negative asymmetry observed in the tests. The proposed model extends the restoring force modeling of T-stub connections to the irregular joint configurations of SCTBs and provides a basis for their nonlinear seismic response analysis. The modeling approach may also serve as a reference for similar blind-bolted T-stub joints in other regions.