Finite Element Analysis of Chinese Traditional Hall-Style Timber Structure

Abstract

This paper uses general finite element software Abaqus to simulate three Chinese traditional hall-style structures recorded in the book <<Yingzao Fashi>>. With Abaqus having an advantage in dealing with contact problems, three hall-style timber structure finite element analysis models have been established within the 3D solid element which is used to model beams, columns, brackets and other structural members in the modeling. Contact pairs also have been used to simulate the interaction between the structure members like beam-column contact pair, column-foot foundation contact pair and dougong-bracket beam contact pair and so on. In the modeling process, some simplifying assumptions have been used for many complex structural members and interactions between them being used in Chinese hall-style structure. The model was finally tested by gravity load and vertical load.