Cable Tension Estimation for Suspen-Dome Structures Based on Numerical Method

Suspen-dome structures have been widely adopted due to their superiority over traditional structures. Cable condition is crucial to the safety of suspen-dome structures, especially the magnitude of cable force. However, thus far, investigations on estimating the tension in this type of structure remain lacking. In this study, double-element method was initially developed to simulate cables, and its accuracy was validated. Tension compensation method was adopted to ensure that the cable force is equal to the designed value. Then, transient analysis was conducted based on an actual suspen-dome structure. The dynamic responses derived based on the overall structures and the simplified models were compared, and the reliability of the simplified models was validated. Finally, parametrical analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of support stiffness and cable-bending stiffness on the fundamental frequency of cables. A cable tension estimation program, which was suitable for suspen-dome structures, was updated. Results indicate that vibration method can maintain good accuracy when used in suspen-dome structures.