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Civil-Comp Proceedings
ISSN 1759-3433 CCP: 73
PROCEEDINGS OF THE EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING COMPUTING Edited by: B.H.V. Topping
Paper 23
Development of an Advanced System for Analysis and Design of Tensile Structures T.H. Zhang and S.L. McCabe
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, United States of America Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper
T.H. Zhang, S.L. McCabe, "Development of an Advanced System for Analysis and Design of Tensile Structures", in B.H.V. Topping, (Editor), "Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Civil and Structural Engineering Computing", Civil-Comp Press, Stirlingshire, UK, Paper 23, 2001. doi:10.4203/ccp.73.23
Keywords: tensile structures, form finding, non-linear, direct stiffness, finite element, DLTG, Newton-Raphson.
Summary
This paper reports on a project that has developed a windows-based analysis
system for tension structures. The analysis procedure includes Direct Stiffness and
FEM and is interpreted as an application in AutoCAD 2000. The result is an analysis
system that is freely integrated with AutoCAD and permits building the analysis
model graphically and then viewing the results. Fabrication or shop drawings then
are developed.
23.1 Form Finding MethodsA non-linear program was developed to find the natural shape of the tension fabric roof. Direct Stiffness and Finite-Element analysis procedures were developed for use on different types of structures. The large displacement theory was implemented and the solution using iterative numerical method. The methods are using to find the initial form of the structures as well as computation the displacements under loading. Results are compared with theory and predicted results. The Direct Stiffness method is applied for relatively simple and truss or cable structures such as single layer, double layer or cable tensegrity domes. In this case, the final shape can always be predicted. Assuming the final shape, modeling the coordinates of every node and applying prestress at the beginning, the node coordinates can be adjusted by computing their displacements to get the final shape. For this method, a simultaneous nonlinear equilibrium equations were built as![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
23.2 Software Development EnvironmentThis software was designed to assist engineers in analyzing and designing tension structures by finding the form and calculating the large displacements of the tension structure. The software has both the robust nonlinear calculation and capability of GUI. AutoCAD2000 is used as application engine. All the computational procedures of the software are placed the external application programming environments to AutoCAD. Microsoft Visual C++6.0(VC++) is utilized to conduct all the calculation processes. The final shape of the structure can be drawn automatically from the results. Also, this software can draft the various elements that make up the roofing system and show the bill of material costs. This software will simplify the complex design process of tension structures and save time for designers. The utilization of this software will make the design of tension structures a more straitforward processes and allowing development of new results for the structures.References
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