Lateral Structural Performance of Column Frame Layer and Dou-Gong Layer in a Timber Structure

In this study, a 1:2 scale model of a timber building with a column frame layer and a Dou-Gong layer was fabricated according to the construction method that prevailed during the Song dynasty, China (A.D. 960–1279). Three quasi-static tests were conducted on the model under three levels of vertical loads to study the seismic response of the column frame layer and Dou-Gong layer in a timber structure. The experimental results indicated that the ultimate loading state of the timber structure was mainly controlled by the lateral displacement of the column frame layer. The hysteretic behaviour and stiffness characteristics of the column frame layer were quite similar to those of the overall structure. The stiffness of the Dou-Gong layer was much higher than that of the column frame layer, and no stiffness degradation was observed in the Dou-Gong layer. Fairly little energy was dissipated by the Dou-Gong layer; more than 80% of the structural energy dissipation that occurred was attributable to the column frame layer. Moreover, based on the deformation features of the column frame and Dou-Gong layer, a theoretical model for estimating the restoring force of the overall structure was established.