Lateral Resistance Performance Investigation of Timber Frames in Traditional Chinese Village Dwellings

This study investigates numerically the lateral behavior of timber frames from Chinese traditional village dwellings, which represent an essential component of architectural heritage in seismic-prone regions. Based on full-scale tests of three timber frames with varying column base constraints and vertical loading configurations, the finite element models were developed to validate the numerical simulation of lateral resistance and analyze the internal mechanisms. High consistency was observed between the numerical predictions and experimental results. The validated modeling method were used to conduct a parametric study of specimen MGJ-1 to investigate the influence of the vertical load magnitude, column base constraints, friction coefficient, tenon dimension, and component modular variation. This research contributes to the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic timber dwellings by offering scientific evidence to guide structural assessment and conservation strategies.