Investigating the seismic vulnerability of traditional ancient Tibetan buildings via structural subscaling experiments

Traditional ancient Tibetan buildings (TATBs) date back hundreds of years. The seismic performance of TATBs constructed with stones and mud was analyzed by utilizing structural subscale features (materials, walls, and structures). The key to load-bearing in TATBs is the three-leaf stone wall. Based on the mechanical properties of materials, compression tests and quasistatic static tests of walls, this paper confirms that the seismic resistance capacity of the three-leaf stone wall of TATBs is unable to meet Chinese standards. The aims of this study are to present the dynamic behavior of TATBs by shaking table tests. According to the experimental data, the transcendence intensity magnification calculation method is modified to calculate the seismic vulnerability of TATBs. The results show that when the peak acceleration of ground motion is 1.042 m/s², 1.598 m/s² and 2.881 m/s², TATBs undergo slight damage, moderate damage, and severe damage, respectively.