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Modal Analysis of Earthen Heritage Sites: A Case Study of the Hanguang Gate Section of the Xi’an City Wall

International Journal of Civil Engineering
© 2025 by SSRG - IJCE Journal
Volume 12 Issue 3
Year of Publication : 2025
Authors : Ruijuan Yang, Masyitah Md Nujid, Aifang Wu
10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I3P104
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How to Cite?

Ruijuan Yang, Masyitah Md Nujid, Aifang Wu, "Modal Analysis of Earthen Heritage Sites: A Case Study of the Hanguang Gate Section of the Xi’an City Wall," SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 12,  no. 3, pp. 40-46, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I3P104

Abstract:

The Xi’an City Wall, a prominent earthen heritage site in China with over 600 years of history, holds significant cultural, economic, and archaeological value. Over centuries, it has undergone progressive deterioration due to natural weathering, seismic events, and environmental vibrations, with vibrations identified as a critical factor in structural degradation. Despite this, the dynamic characteristics of earthen heritage sites under vibration remain poorly understood. This study addresses this gap by employing a three-dimensional finite element model to investigate the modal behavior of the Hanguang Gate section of the Xi’an City Wall, China, providing new insights into the damage mechanisms induced by environmental vibrations. Results reveal that the wall's natural frequencies fall within a low-frequency range, with stress concentration occurring at geometric transitions and peak displacement observed at the upper regions. These findings enhance the understanding of vibrational damage mechanisms and provide a scientific foundation for developing targeted vibration isolation strategies to preserve earthen heritage structures.

Keywords:

City wall, Earthen sites, Environmental vibrations, Modal analyses, Numerical simulations.

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