The connection performance and bearing capacity of a single-layer combined lattice shell with aluminium alloy honeycomb panels

Abstract

To take full advantage of the lightweight and high strength characteristics of aluminium alloy honeycomb panels and to overcome the shortcoming of the low elastic modulus of the aluminium alloy lattice shell, the present study proposes a new aluminium alloy combined lattice shell (AACLS) structure, which consists of aluminium honeycomb panels and an aluminium alloy lattice shell that jointly resist the load. In the present study, a cylindrical combined lattice shell with a span of 4.4 m was designed and fabricated to carry out the bearing capacity test, and on this basis, the load bearing characteristics and the failure mechanism of this new type of spatial structure are described. The test results show that because the honeycomb panels acted as an integral part of the structure, the overall stiffness and stable bearing capacity of this new type of combined lattice shell were significantly improved compared to those of a panel-free single-layer aluminium alloy lattice shell with the same span. Using the connection performance simulation method proposed in the present study, the load bearing performance of the combined cylindrical lattice shell was well simulated, with an error of only 2% between the calculated and tested ultimate bearing capacities. Parametric analysis was carried out to investigate the effects of the boundary conditions, rise-to-span ratio, and geometric imperfections on the performance of the combined lattice shell. Based on the finite element analysis results of 552 numerical examples and using the probability-based partial factor design method, a simplified method for calculating the stable bearing capacity of the combined lattice shell is proposed, which provides a theoretical basis for the engineering design and specification development of this new type of combined structure in the future.