Damage assessment and preservation of suspending system of Yongle-Big-Bell

The Yongle-Big-Bell is an exquisite heritage of ancient China and has more than 600 years history. The long history renders the suspending wooden rack serious damage. Therefore, the security is of our great concern. In order to know if the wooden rack is safe or not for the conventional striking in the festival service, a systemic research work has been done. At first the existing deformation and response to the strike of the beetle were measured, and then calculations using method of material mechanics and finite element analysis were conducted. Based on the results of our research, some concluding remarks and suggestion were given: The Yongle-Big-Bell can be struck regularly without urgent danger of collapse. In view of the existence of serious rotten damage, the repair and protection of wooden rack are pressing.