Study on the Seismic Performance of the Statues of the Heavenly Kings in Dule Temple, Tianjin, China

The Statues of the Heavenly Kings at the mountain gate of Dule Temple in Tianjin represent a quintessential example of Liao Dynasty wooden-framed clay sculptures, possessing immense historical and artistic value. Given their location within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei seismic belt and existing damage, conducting seismic performance assessments is critical. Through 3D laser scanning and X-ray detection technology, an accurate three-dimensional model encompassing both external morphology and internal wooden framework was constructed. Material testing revealed the coarse plaster layer consists of 57.05% clay, 36.21% sand, and 6.74% straw, with compressive strength of 3.54 MPa and tensile strength of 0.28 MPa, exhibiting plastic failure characteristics. An elastic-plastic damage constitutive model was established based on experimental data, and finite element analysis was conducted using ABAQUS software. Seismic time-history analysis indicates that local damage may occur in the clay sculpture under Intensity VII (on the China Seismic Intensity Scale, hereinafter referred to as CSIS), while Intensity VIII (CSIS) is likely to cause failure in stress concentration zones such as the legs and neck, with Taft waves having the most significant impact. These findings provide a reference for safety assessments of this cultural relic and other similar clay sculptures.