Topology-optimized reinforcement of Terracotta Warriors validated by shaking-table testing and finite-element analysis

The Terracotta Warriors, hailed as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, face material degradation and structural instability. Conventional reinforcement brackets are inadequate for their diverse forms and uneven stress distributions. This study proposes a topology optimization-based reinforcement method. A customized bracket for a standing warrior replica was designed and validated via shaking table tests. Furthermore, aerospace-grade polycarbonate (PC) was introduced as an alternative material. Finite-element simulations under identical geometry and boundary conditions as steel brackets compared their dynamic responses. Results show the PC bracket maintains 90% light transmittance with appropriate hardness, achieving 39% average reinforcement efficiency, thus balancing exhibition esthetics and structural safety. This method is applicable to individualized support for large, brittle heritage objects including terracotta figures, ceramic sculptures, stone/wood statues, and thin-walled hollow artifacts in museums and in-situ displays.