Application Of Vector Form Intrinsic Finite Element Method In The Analysis Of Cable Membrane Structures

Cable membrane structures are special new type of spatial structures, which have been widely used in the worldwild. Cable membrane structures get the stiffness by prestressed, which is a process coupling of structures and mechanisms. Rigid body displacement and elastic deformation exist in any single step of the analysis process. The traditional finite element method may have many difficulties in dealing with these problems, which lead to a complex calculation process and inaccurate results.The Vector Form Intrinsic Finite Element Method(VFIFE), as a new calculation method, proposes the concept of particle motion and the criteria of particle movement. Finite element method is simultaneously introduced to handle theinteraction between particles and a special method is adopted to deal with the rigid body displacement. Through these methods, the VFIFE can solve complexmechanical problems efficiently and accurately, such as contact, collision, fracture and collapse.In this paper, the VFIFE is employed in the form-finding analysis, construction analysis and load analysis of cable membrane structures. The studies in the thesis are mainly of such relevance as:(1) derive the basic equations of cable element and truss element, code program of cabletruss element and solves examples with complex boundary conditions; (2) apply the VFIFE in the form-finding of tension structures, study the form-finding examples with different boundary conditions; (3) elaborate the direct and inverse analysis methods in the construction analysis, verify that the VFIFE is simple and effective by numerical examples and analyze the construction form process of Shenzhen Baoan Stadium; (4) derive the basic equations and code the program of triangular membrane element, calculate some examples and use the method in the form-finding analysis; (5) study the wrinkle problem of membrane structures and introduce the VFIFE into the analysis of membrane structure with load.Special features of the VFIFE make it an unique method in the analysis of cable membrane structures, which is more effective than traditional method. In the last part of the article, some conclusions is obtained and new research direction is proposed simultaneously.