Self-weight and seismic instability of a Qin Terracotta Army horse using finite element analysis
Abstract
Abstract This study investigates terracotta horse T23G9:C2④ from Pit 1 of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor using a 3D-scanned finite element model. Self-weight and seismic responses were evaluated under El Centro and artificial ground motions, frequent- and rare-earthquake levels, X- and Z-direction excitation, and friction coefficients of 0.31 and 0.50. Instability was assessed using critical acceleration, critical inclination angle, relative displacement, baseline-corrected inclination angle, and maximum in-plane principal stress. Under self-weight, deformation and tensile stress remained small. Under frequent earthquakes, only limited migration occurred. Rare-earthquake excitation caused overturning in the X direction but predominantly sliding in the Z direction. Friction altered the coupled sliding-rocking response, while the artificial motion produced larger cumulative displacement than El Centro. Stresses in all representative cases remained below the terracotta tensile strength, and ±20% shell-thickness variation did not change the dominant instability modes, indicating that global sliding and overturning govern the seismic risk.
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