Research on the physical and mechanical properties of Qin Terracotta Warrior fragments
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(1. China Aviation Planning and Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100120, China;2. Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, Xi’an 710600, China;3. State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083,China}

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    Abstract:

    To investigate the physical and mechanical properties of Qin Terracotta Warriors, we took specimens from some intact fragments of a terracotta warrior’s robe and carried out systematic microscopic and macroscopic tests on them. Using X-ray diffraction, mercury intrusion and scanning electron microscopy, the microscopic morphology of the surface was observed, and the pore structure parameters and mineral contents were determined. It was found that the specimens had a porphyritic texture, the mineral of the ground mass was illite (hydromica) and the minerals of phenocryst included potassium feldspar (or albite), plagioclase, pyrite and quartz, and many micropores were contained and the porosity was very high. Through the wave velocity, uniaxial compression, Brazilian and direct shear tests, the mechanical properties were obtained, including longitudinal and transverse wave velocities, dynamic elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio, Young’s modulus, uniaxial compression strength, tensile strength and shear strength parameters (cohesion and internal friction angle). The deformation and failure modes of the specimens revealed that Qin Terracotta Warrior fragments were typical quasi-brittle materials with the ratio of compressive strength to tensile strength being 5.21, and their density, longitudinal or transverse wave velocities were very close to those of conglomerate. Compared with the gray specimens, the brown specimens were denser, and their Young’s modulus and uniaxial compression strength were much higher. The results could provide basic data for the detailed quantitative research on the overall structural safety, stability and seismic protection of Qin Terracotta Warriors.

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History
  • Received:January 30,2023
  • Revised:January 31,2023
  • Adopted:
  • Online: March 04,2025
  • Published:
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