Structural design and manufacturing length errors analyses of crossed spoke cable-truss structure

Abstract

To overcome the weak lateral stiffness and weak anti-collapse ability of traditional spoke cable-truss structures, the crossed spoke cable-truss structure (CSCTS) is proposed. As structural stiffness and bearing ability are generated from prestresses produced by tensioning cable length, it is necessary to study the influences of manufacturing errors on CSCTS. The structural design method is proposed by theoretical derivation and the finite element (FE) model with a span of 100 [Formula: see text] is designed for CSCTS. The influences of manufacturing length errors on the mechanical behaviors of CSCTS are studied under four different conditions based on FE model. The influences of manufacturing length errors on the static behaviors of CSCTS are further studied under full-span and half-span loads. Then the control criteria of cable length errors are obtained by theoretical method under the same and different manufacturing length errors. The results show the structural design method can solve the reasonable shape and self-stress mode of CSCTS. The influences of the elongation or shortening of cables and struts on the sensitivity indexes of CSCTS are equal. The internal force variations are the same under different prestress states when length errors are unchanged. Manufacturing errors have greater influences on cable-truss frame itself than others. The influences of manufacturing errors at different positions on internal forces are similar under full-span and half-span loads, which is more sensitive to half-span loads. When construction method of un-adjustable cable length is used, the reasonable control criteria of cable length errors can be adopted considering calculation amount and project costs. The contents can support some meaningful references for the design and construction of CSCTS.