Stability study on structural systems assembled by system scaffolds

Abstract

This study investigates the stability of the structural systems assembled by system scaffolds. Loading tests were conducted on the indoor single-bay system scaffolds and the outdoor full-scale structural system assembled by system scaffolds. Test results were compared with the second-order inelastic analysis with semi-rigid joints to determine the reliability of various analytical parameters. The study reveals that, while the failure model of the single-bay two-storey system scaffold without diagonal braces is overall buckling failure of the structure, the failure model of the same structure with diagonal braces is buckling failure of the vertical standards between the upper and lower storeys. The critical load of the configuration with diagonal braces is about double that of the same structure without diagonal braces. At the moment of buckling failure of the outdoor full-scale two-row, two-bay, six-storey structural system assembled by system scaffolds, the vertical standards at the four corners appeared to have large horizontal displacements owing to without diagonal braces. However, the vertical standard in the center did not exhibit obvious horizontal deformation because it was reinforced with diagonal braces on four sides. In addition, the use of diagonal braces can significantly increase the load capacity of vertical standards. This study recommends that all vertical standards be reinforced with diagonal braces to ensure the load capacity of the structural systems assembled by system scaffolds. A second-order inelastic analysis with semi-rigid joints and various notional lateral forces is recommended to determine the critical loads of full-scale structural systems assembled by system scaffolds.