Archaeological investigation by geotomography: structure of the foundation of Yingxian timber pagoda

• Published in: Acta seismologica sinica 1998-03, Vol.11 (2), p.237-245
• Main Authors: Feng, Rui, Yan, Wei-Zhang, Feng, Guo-Zheng, Tao, Yu-Lu, Zhou, Hai-Nan, Li, Xiao-Qin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Archaeology; Caves; Deformation; Porosity; Seismic activity; Seismology; Timber; Tomography
• ISSN: 1000-9116; 1674-4519; 1993-1344; 1867-8777
• DOI: 10.1007/s11589-998-0061-3

It is significant to take a non-destructive inspection, one of advanced techniques, for detecting the internal structure and the present status of ancient cultural relics. The results detected by geotomography in Yingxian timber pagoda, Shanxi Province, are presented in this paper. The embankment in the stepped foundation shows a three circular structure in horizontal: the circular platform core is hard, homogenous and unharmed, out of which there are some radial collapsed grooves. The middle circle with a thickness of 2 to 4 m is a compacted layer and its loading capacity decreases then. The outer protective layer has a larger porosity and a weak loading capacity. An abnormal body is found out in the core, which has a circular shape and a reverse high-absorption coefficient in the shallow part, but appears a long-band shape and a low-absorption coefficient in the deep part. It might be a disturbance caused by artificial activities: the shallow part is probably a channel filled with loosen soil and the deep part is a hidden cave. It is found that the foundation of the courtyard is homogenous and integrated. Two soft and weakened areas in the north are related to the long-term run-off and drainage of groundwater. The inclination of the timber pagoda to the northwest and northeast relates to several factors, such as the inherited subsidence of the northern foundation, the lower loading capacity of the outer stepped foundation, seismic activity and timber deformation.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]