Structural performance of Dou-Gong brackets of Yingxian Wood Pagoda under vertical load – An experimental study

• Two typical Dou-Gong models of Yingxian Wood Pagoda were tested.
• The behaviour and failure modes of Dou-Gong under vertical load were investigated.
• The load-transferring path of Dou-Gong was researched.
• The performance of the prototype Dou-Gong of the pagoda was estimated.

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the structural performance of Dou-Gong brackets of Yingxian Wood Pagoda under vertical load. Two scaled models of typical Dou-Gong brackets of the pagoda were designed, manufactured and tested. Both models behaved similarly to that of a wood component under compression perpendicular to grain. Four failure modes of the components were identified, these included yield of component under compression perpendicular to grain, fracture of component under tension perpendicular to grain, fracture of component due to shear and breaking-off of component under bending. The structural performance of the model Dou-Gong brackets was revealed from test observations, and the initial stiffness and the load-carrying capacity of the prototype Dou-Gong brackets of the pagoda were derived based on the similitude theory. This study provides reference, from a structural point of view, for the preservation of cultural heritage structures such as Yingxian Wood Pagoda.

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