Preliminary research on the damage to ancient buildings and cultural relics caused by the 1927 Gulang M 8.0 earthquake, Northwest China

Abstract

Ancient buildings are priceless cultural relics of human. As a historic and cultural city in China, Wuwei is adorned with ancient buildings that serve as beautiful scenery and valuable cultural resources. These buildings have endured the attacks of the 1927 Gulang earthquake and several major earthquakes, providing us with rich and invaluable experience in earthquake resistance. This paper systematically reviews the damage caused by the 1927 Gulang M8 earthquake to ancient buildings, such as pagodas, official buildings, temples, city walls, ancient tombs, grottoes, and stone steles through literature collection, analysis, review, and field investigation. The study reveals that the impact of the Gulang earthquake on ancient buildings is mainly manifested in the destruction of the building structures. Examples include cracks in frameworks, damage to the joints of mortise and tenon structures, and the collapse of dome structures, etc. In addition to structural damage, there are also instances of gravity collapse and shaking off. The extent of damage is influenced by factors such as seismic intensity, construction materials, structural types, foundation types, distance, and directions. In order to protect ancient buildings to the greatest extent, appropriate strategies should be selected based on the type of ancient buildings. These strategies may include regular maintenance and reinforcement of weak parts in the building structures, the construction of supporting facilities to provide support for ancient buildings, and the implementation of measures such as seismic weakening and buffering. We firmly believe that by prioritizing earthquake-resistant protection for ancient buildings, and implementing necessary and reasonable protective measures, we can minimize earthquake damages to ancient buildings, and preserve the precious heritage of mankind for as long as possible.