Principle restoration and design technology of Zhang Heng's Seismoscope

GuoDong XU, ZhiKang ZHANG, JingShan BO, JuWen LI, YunXia ZHANG

Prog Geophy ›› 2025, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (5) : 2316-2333.

PDF(6843 KB)
Home Journals Progress in Geophysics
Progress in Geophysics

Abbreviation (ISO4): Prog Geophy      Editor in chief:

About  /  Aim & scope  /  Editorial board  /  Indexed  /  Contact  / 
PDF(6843 KB)
Prog Geophy ›› 2025, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (5) : 2316-2333. DOI: 10.6038/pg2025II0093

Principle restoration and design technology of Zhang Heng's Seismoscope

Author information +
History +

Abstract

The principle restoration of Zhang Heng's Seismoscope and the realization of its seismic detection function are crucial for the seismological community to recognize and accept Zhang Heng's Seismoscope as a scientific instrument. Pillar and Copper-instrument are the two most critical information in historical literature records. The Pillar must support the Copper-instrument, and the Copper-instrument must be placed on the top of the Pillar, otherwise it cannot be called Pillar; Understanding this relationship of support and positioning leads to the emergence of the principle model of the Seismoscope. The "secondary structure excitation model of primary-secondary structure resonance system" is proposed as the principle model of the Seismoscope. By utilizing the resonance amplification effect of the primary-secondary structures (at least 5.0 times), and the lever amplification effect of the trigger mechanism (at least 4.0 times), a relative displacement amplification of at least 20 times for most seismic motions is achieved, with some amplifications exceeding 50 times. Theoretically, this enables the effective excitation of Zhang Heng's Seismoscope under microseisms (imperceptible to humans). Coupled with an automatic locking system, the Seismoscope achieves an automatic seismic detection function. The primary structure (Ground-Motion) can be simplified as a "cantilever structure with a large concentrated mass at the top and supported at the bottom on a horizontal elastic foundation." The secondary structure (Wind-Observation) consists of 8 pendulums corresponding to 8 directions. Each pendulum is suspended using a "pin", and the pendulum rod is made of copper, serving as a tension-compression rod. This design ensures that the pendulum's swing direction is essentially perpendicular to the axis direction of the pin, allowing for the detection of seismic motion direction. The seismic motion direction measured by the Seismoscope is the one caused by microseisms that initially excites the secondary structure to undergo a significant displacement relative to the primary structure. If the direction aligns with the earthquake-source direction, it may be possible to measure the earthquake-source direction. Due to the significant differences in stiffness and mass between the primary and secondary structures, they can be separated and calculated separately as small-damping ideal linear elastic single-degree-of-freedom systems. The relative displacement of the secondary structure given by this simplified method is slightly smaller than the precise calculation results of the ANSYS finite element model, with a deviation of no more than 10%, indicating that the simplified method has high accuracy and credibility. The relative displacement amplification coefficient of the secondary structure is the primary indicator for whether the seismograph is easy to be excited. The relative displacement amplification coefficient spectrum of the secondary structure is proposed as the basic technical diagram for designing the Seismoscope. A statistical analysis was conducted on the calculation results of 18 sets of far-field seismic records. If requiring the relative displacement amplification coefficient of the secondary structure to be no less than 5.0, it is preliminarily believed that the optimal natural vibration period of the primary-secondary structures ranges from 2.1 s to 2.6 s. The on-site installation and adjusting process to control the natural vibration period range of the primary-secondary structures of the Seismoscope for achieving resonance effects is provided. Further field tests are required to verify its seismic detection function. The principle restoration and instrument design of Zhang Heng's Seismoscope have been preliminarily achieved. Using modern seismic observation results and structural dynamic analysis technology, the principle model of the Seismoscope proposed in this paper conforms to historical records and can achieve the (micro-)seismic detection function

Key words

Zhang Heng / Seismoscope / Primary-secondary structure / Resonance / Pendulum / Relative displacement amplification coefficient spectra of secondary structure

Cite this article

Download Citations
GuoDong XU , ZhiKang ZHANG , JingShan BO , et al . Principle restoration and design technology of Zhang Heng's Seismoscope[J]. Progress in Geophysics. 2025, 40(5): 2316-2333 https://doi.org/10.6038/pg2025II0093

References

Boore D M , Watson-Lamprey J , Abrahamson N A . Orientation-independent measures of ground motion. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 2006, 96 (4A): 1502- 1511.
Cao L H . A new study of Zhang Heng's Hou-Feng seismoscope. Machine Design and Research, 2011, 27 (2): 114- 118.
Cao L H , Zou H J . Debate on restoring the original structure of seismograph. Machine Design and Research, 2019, 35 (5): 201- 205.
Feng R , Wu Y X . Reconstruction of mechanical principles of the ZHANG Heng's seismoscope. Earthquake Research in China, 2003, 19 (4): 358- 376.
Feng R , Wu Y X , Zhu T . Research on the historical records and reconstruction models of Zhang Heng's Seismometer. Studies in the History of Natural Science, 2006a, 25 (S1): 34- 52.
Feng R , Yu Y X . Zhang Heng's Seismometer and Longxi earthquake of 134 AD. Acta Seismologica Sinica, 2006b, 28 (6): 654- 668.
Hu J J , Sun J . Analysis of directivity effect on ground motion based on the 2014 MW6.0 Jinggu moderate magnitude earthquake in Yunnan, China. Progress in Geophysics, 2018, 33 (5): 1807- 1813.
Kircher C, Constantinou M, Deierlein G, et al. 2009. Quantification of building seismic performance factors. USA (FEMA P695).
Liu D R . The World's Earliest Vernier Measuring Tool-Xinmang Copper Caliper. Journal of the Chinese History Museum, 1979, 94- 98. 94-98, 93
Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China . GB 50307-2012 Code for geotechnical investigations of urban rail transit. Beijing: China Planning Press, 2012
Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China . JTG 3363-2019 Specifications for design of foundation of highway bridges and culverts. Beijing: China Communications Press, 2019
Qiu G M . Xinmang Calipers and Vernier Calipers. Cultural Relics, 2023, (6): 61- 64.
Sleeswyk A W , Sivin N . Dragons and toads: the Chinese seismoscope of A.D. 132. Chinese Science, 1983, 6: 1- 19.
State Administration for Market Regulation , National Standardization Administration . GB/T 17742-2020 The Chinese Seismic intensity scale. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2020
Wang Z D . Study on the restoration of Zhang Heng's Seismoscope. Cultural Relics, 1963a, (2): 1- 8.
Wang Z D . Study on the restoration of Zhang Heng's Seismoscope (Continued). Cultural Relics, 1963b, (4): 1- 20.
Wang Z D . Study on the restoration of Zhang Heng's Seismoscope (Continued & Finished). Cultural Relics, 1963c, (5): 12- 24.
Zhu Y T , Li Y M , Liu Z , et al. Design theory of Houfeng Seismograph based on seismic response spectrum. Journal of Mechanical Strength, 2022, 44 (6): 1321- 1326.
励华 . 张衡候风地动仪新探. 机械设计与研究, 2011, 27 (2): 114- 118.
励华 , 慧君 . 候风地动仪的复原和儒增问题. 机械设计与研究, 2019, 35 (5): 201- 205.
, 玉霞 . 张衡候风地动仪的原理复原研究. 中国地震, 2003, 19 (4): 358- 376.
, 玉霞 , . 地动仪的史料和模型研究. 自然科学史研究, 2006a, 25 (S1): 34- 52.
, 言祥 . 张衡地动仪与公元134年陇西地震. 地震学报, 2006b, 28 (6): 654- 668.
国家市场监督管理总局 , 国家标准化管理委员会 . GB/T 17742—2020中国地震烈度表. 北京: 中国标准出版社, 2020
进军 , . 基于2014年云南景谷Mw6.0地震的中强震地震动的方向性特征分析. 地球物理学进展, 2018, 33 (5): 1807- 1813.
东瑞 . 世界上最早的游标量具—新莽铜卡尺. 中国历史博物馆馆刊, 1979, 94- 98. 94-98, 93
光明 . 新莽卡尺与游标卡尺. 文物, 2023, (6): 61- 64.
振铎 . 张衡候风地动仪的复原研究. 文物, 1963a, (2): 1- 8.
振铎 . 张衡候风地动仪的复原研究(续). 文物, 1963b, (4): 1- 20.
振铎 . 张衡候风地动仪的复原研究(续完). 文物, 1963c, (5): 12- 24.
中华人民共和国交通运输部 . JTG 3363—2019公路桥涵地基与基础设计规范. 北京: 人民交通出版社, 2019
中华人民共和国住房和城乡建设部 . GB 50307—2012城市轨道交通岩土工程勘察规范. 北京: 中国计划出版社, 2012
玉田 , 亚美 , , 等. 基于地震反应谱的候风地动仪设计理论. 机械强度, 2022, 44 (6): 1321- 1326.

感谢审稿专家提出的修改意见和编辑部的大力支持!

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Copyright ©2025 Progress in Geophysics. All rights reserved.
PDF(6843 KB)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/