Retrofitting of hybrid cable domes against strut buckling using di-pyramid (DP) module and force-limiting devices (FLD)

Abstract

Cable domes are one of the most efficient types of long-span structures designed using the concept of tensegrity structures. They maintain the stability by being attached to compression concrete ring at the boundaries which contradicts the free-standing principal of tensegrities. In this paper, a hybrid cable-dome is presented as a combination of a Levy-type cable dome and a real tensegrity ring instead of the concrete. Two different configurations based on different angles of modules in the tensegrity ring were selected and the application of two strategies were investigated, namely, di-pyramid (DP) module and force-limiting devices (FLD) instead of critical struts, to strengthen hybrid cable domes. Effect of the tensegrity ring and its combined performance with the cable dome were evaluated by performing static and dynamic collapse analyses on the hybrid and traditional cable domes. The results demonstrate that the load-carrying capacity of suggested hybrid cable domes equipped with DP modules and FLDs can be increased up to almost 100%.