Analysis Of Mechanical Behavior And Static, Dynamic Field Experiments Of Suspendome Structure

Based on the tensegrity concept and single-layer reticulated dome, Suspendomestructure, a new kind of hybrid structural system, can cross a larger span reasonably,economically and grandly with advantages of high rigidity, good stability and simpleconstruction. On the basis of previous research work, the structure is further studiedsystematically and comprehensively in this paper.The concept, characteristic and background of the suspendome structure areanalysed. Generalization is made to the foreign research production and to the civilpresent state in recent years. Several key problems are brought forward for thestruture's popularization and application.Geometrical nonlinear finite element methods are introduced, which refer topin-jointed element, rigid-jointed beam-column element and flexible cable element.Then different names of suspen-structure are discussed. An elementary classificationis presented according to the joint's connection style and a detailed classification ismade following the disposal of component.The basic formulas, which can determine the ratio of each hoop cable's prestress,are derived. Aiming at making forces exerted to the supports vanish, the process todetermine the hoop cables' prestress value is achieved by the modifiedtension-compensation method. Through lack of fit and tension-slacken method, theconstruction process analysis is carried out. Taking the construction sequence intoconsideration, the controlled prestress value in cables in the construction process canbe obtained successfully.Wind load is divided into two parts which are respectively average static windload and random vibratory wind load. The response of inner force and displacementupon suspendome and single-layer reticulated dome under wind load is analyzed andcompared. Some conclusions are obtained, which may be useful to the structure'sdesign. The response under random vibratory wind load is achieved through thetheory of random vibration and the PSD method of program ANSYS.The static and dynamic field experiments on the 18.5m-span suspendomestructure in the project of Tianjin Museum are carried out. Based on theoreticalanalysis the experimental schemes are determined which refer to two different typesof suspendome structure. One is the half-cable-half-tube type and the other is therigid-tube type. In the static experiments, strains of elements and displacements ofjoints under different load steps are collected. When compared to the theoretical result,Effect of pin joints and rigid joints is taken into account as well as the influence of 10percent's preloading. In the dynamic experiments, the structure's natural vibrationfrequencies and the corresponding vibration modals are obtained respectively throughAmbient Excitation Method and Hammer Exciting Method by two construction stages.Analysis is made to the characteristics of the vibraton modals. A comparison of resultsbetween experments and theoretical analysis is presented.Finally, the research findings are summarized, which include the classification tosuspen-structure, the prestress's initialization in cables, construction process analysis,response of wind load and static and dynamic field experiments to the suspendomestructure. The perspectives for further study are put forward with respect to themechanical behavior of different types of suspendome structure, reasonable jointconfiguration and schemes of prestress's application, etc.