Dynamic characteristics of single-layer cylindrical lattice shells

Abstract

This investigation is concerned with the free vibration and seismic response of single-layer cylindrical lattice shells. The effects of basic structural parameters such as the ratio of rise to span, mass, damping, the ratio of length to span and the rigidity of supports, on the dynamic behaviour of single-layer cylindrical lattice shells are investigated in detail. In this paper the finite-element method is used, in which three-dimensional beam elements are employed. Both the natural frequencies and their associated modes of vibration are obtained with a subspace iteration technique, and the direct dynamic analysis method is adopted to analyse the dynamic responses of single-layer lattice shells under vertical and horizontal earthquake excitations. The objective of this study is to achieve a better understanding of the dynamic characteristics and seismic behaviour of single-layer lattice shells. The results are valuable for the earthquake-resistant design of such structures.