Experiment Study on the Influences of Length Errors of Cables and Struts on Spatial Cable-Truss Structure Without Inner Ring Cables

Abstract

Spatial cable-truss structure without inner ring cables (SCSWIRC) belongs to tensile structure, which is composed of three kinds of cable, strut and stiff ring-beam, and its stiffness generates from the pre-stresses of cables. The manufacturing errors of the three kinds of components determine the final formed state and ultimate bearing capacity, so it is essential to study the influences of manufacturing errors of three kinds of components on the mechanical property of structure. The influences of manufacturing errors on SCSWIRC have been studied from four aspects that include elongation or shortening of cable and strut, different pre-stresses states, different cable-truss frames and external loads. The relations of manufacturing errors and four aspects have been studied based on finite element model and experimental model. The results show that the elongation and shortening of components has little influence on sensitive indexes of components when the elongation or shortening of components is the same. The manufacturing errors have the different influences on the mechanical property of structure under the different pre-stress states. The closer cable-truss frame is to the error position, the larger influence the error has on cable-truss frame. The external loads have not changed the basic mechanical property of SCSWIRC, but the external loads make upper chord cables easier to loose and make sensitive indexes change more greatly. The research contents reveal the influences of manufacturing errors on the mechanical property of SCSWIRC from the four aspects.