Computerized structural analysis of the world's largest light-gage steel primary structural system

Abstract

This paper describes the computerized techniques utilized in the design and structural analysis of the world's largest light-gage steel primary structural roof system for the American Airlines Superbay Hangars recently constructed in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Each hangar consists of sixteen basic structural modules formed with light-gage steel into the shape of long narrow hyperbolic paraboloids. Each module, 56 ft wide, cantilevers 230 ft from a central core. Methods of modelling this unique structure for finite element analysis are discussed and compared within the paper. Comparisons are made between computer solutions and other methods of analysis employed during design. Areas of work where only a computerized solution could give the proper analysis have been indicated, and results are presented along with their effects on design decisions. Many normally considered secondary effects are of prime importance when designing large spans with lightweight stressed skin structures. Computer solutions have shown their value on this project, analyzing the significance of secondary effects, and have shown that presently structures of this nature could not be designed efficiently without the use of finite element techniques.