Theoretical And Experimental Research Of Sunflower-Patterned Cable Dome

Sunflower-patterned cable dome is a self-stress spatial structure, comprised of cable, struts and membranes, which is also a reasonable and efficient structure. Its structure form origins from the Georgia dome, but the roof is circular. Limit cognizance and little research have been given on this structure. From theory and experiment point of view, the structure morphology, static and dynamic behavior, constructing process and model experiments are studied systematically in this dissertation.The history and several projects of cable dome are briefly introduced. Advances of cable dome are reviewed and the directions of cable dome research are also discussed.The concrete contents of structure morphology are presented. And the procedure of solving initial prestress by equilibrium matrix theory and simplified method are elucidated. The self-stress mode of sunflower-patterned cable dome must be positive, and the mechanisms mode equals to zero. It seems like statically indeterminate structures and is geometrical stable structure. The solution of initial prestress considering dead load is presented, which is more accurate.The calculation model of sunflower-patterned cable dome is built up. The static behavior of sunflower-patterned cable dome and sunflower-patterned cantilever roof is analyzed by ANSYS program and its results show that thesis two structures have good stiffness and load capability. The prestress in the structure have two functions: on the construction process, the prestress keeps the structures to be formed; but on the initial equilibrium state, the prestress changes the force in the members and keep cable do not out of work.The simplified method, one time statically indeterminate plane truss, for the solution of sunflower-patterned cable dome and sunflower-patterned cantilever roof is introduced. This method is clear and convenient and the results are reliable.The dynamic behavior of sunflower-patterned cable dome and sunflower-patterned cantilever roof are analyzed. The effects of prestress on the frequency and mode is considered, the results show that the frequency is increased with increasing the prestress, but prestress affects more on lower order frequency than higher. For sunflower-patterned cable dome, the prestress has no effects on mode; but for sunflower-patterned cantilever roof, the prestress has evident effects on mode.The seismic behavior of sunflower-patterned cable dome and sunflower-patterned cantilever roof are analyzed. The results reveal that the force in the members and the displacement are small when two structures are under seismic load.That the ideas of designing cable dome change from 'continuous tension, discontinuous compression ' to 'discontinuous tension, discontinuous compression' and that the ideas of construction technique change from 'moving diagonal cable' to 'moving outer diagonal cable or ridge cable 'is proposed. The ideas of structural designing, node design and construction techniques affect each other. The model experiment shows that the construction techniques of moving outer diagonal cable are effective.The experiment model of sunflower-patterned cable dome is designed. The static behavior and initial prestress are measured. The difference of initial prestress and force in the members between experiment results and numerical results is small. But the distribution of force is not uniform. The difference of displacement between experiment results and numerical results is little larger.According to model experiment, the analysis theories are checked and the model is reliable.