Dynamic response and protective strategies of ancient Chinese archway under vehicle collision

This study investigates an ancient Chinese archway of significant historical and cultural value and systematically analyzes its mechanical response under vehicle collisions to provide a scientific basis for its protection. First, scenarios were simulated in which a small vehicle traveling at 10-30 km/h collided with the archway at a 90° angle. Based on this, additional simulations were conducted involving a small vehicle traveling at 30 km/h impacting the central and side columns at angles of 0°, 30°, and 60°. Further, the effects of a truck traveling at 30 km/h colliding with the archway at angles ranging from 30° to 90° were examined. The results indicate that when a small vehicle traveling at 30 km/h strikes the side columns at a 90° angle, the archway collapses. If the central column is impacted, diagonal cracks appear on the front plaque of the archway. However, at impact angles of 30° and 60°, the damage from small vehicles is relatively minor and does not lead to catastrophic failure. In contrast, trucks traveling at 30 km/h cause more severe damage across different angles, demonstrating that truck impacts are significantly more destructive than those from small vehicles. Additionally, the damage caused by collisions with the central column is less severe than that caused by impacts to the side columns. These findings provide an important reference for developing targeted protective measures for ancient archways.