The Record And Analysis Of Damage Of YingXian Wooden Tower

YingXian Wooden Tower, 67.31 meters high, was built in 1056 A.D, which is the highest ancient wooden building in the world. It was mainly made of wood and all of components were jointed by mortise and tenon without a single nail. The tower has the history of nearly one thousand years. At present, not only becomes the tower inclined, but also many components are damaged. This was caused by many factors such as earthquake, gale and corrosive wood, etc. The tower is in a critical state and need to be urgently repaired. It is necessary to analyze the damage state not for the tower as a whole but for each component of it.In this paper, many components of the tower are analyzed.1. Based on the data measured according to the present position of columns, the position plans of the bottom of columns and the top of columns ,which are located each floor ,are drawn. The distance between two columns and the angle among columns are dimensioned on the plan.The plans show that the original octagons constituted by the columns have deformed.The octagons are distorted and become asymmetrical, especially in the west, north and northwest. 2. The present distance between two columns, by listing forms, is compared with the former one. It is found that all of the distances become changed.With regard to the outer ring columns, it is more serious that the bottom of the second pingzuo floor, the top of the second floor and the bottom and top of the third floor changed. With regard to the inner ring columns, it is the most serious that the bottom of the three pingzuo floor changed.3. The present angle among columns, by listing forms, is compared with the former one.It is found that all of the angles become changed, especially for the west, north and northwest. Four outer ring columns in the same side can't be connected by one line.4. The damage of columns, beams and sets is analyzed. The damage of columns is mainly inclined; besides which, the bottom mortises of some columns become broken, some columns become split and the bottom of some columns become corroded.The damage of beams is relatively light and mainly occurs in the second pingzuo floor, the second floor and the third pingzuo floor.The damage of fascia beam is that Pu-Pai-Fang and lintel split, bent and had large deformation on the end.The damage of sets is that Hua-kung broke and lu-dou split.