Development and evaluation of novel modules for deployable tension-strut structures

Abstract

There is a growing need for new alternatives of long-span roof structures with high level of transformability and structural robustness. This led to the development of deployable cable-strut structures, which are composed of a continuous net of struts and another continuous net of cables. Subsequently, a special type of these systems was pioneered and given the term deployable tension-strut structures (DTSSs). The motivation beyond this new concept was the lack of structural efficiency and form flexibility of conventional space trusses that are usually employed for covering large spaces. Typically, DTSSs are roof structures consisting of multiple modules put together to form the roof system. This paper is mainly concerned with developing new robust modules for DTSSs. The technique that was adopted for this purpose is a form-creation methodology previously introduced in the literature. A few modules were already developed based on this shape grammar. However, its potential to develop multiple efficient modules has not been sufficiently investigated. In this current work, the afore-mentioned algorithm was utilized to form 16 new modules. A comparative study based on a nonlinear finite element technique was conducted to investigate the efficiency of the novel modules as compared to that of the previously proposed in the literature. The results show that some of the new proposed modules are far more efficient than those presented in previous researches. Based on this comparative study, the most two efficient modules among the novel ones were picked for further study. Parametric studies were conducted on these two systems under gravity loads and wind loads considering the following parameters: no. of modules, span/depth ratio, and cables’ pre-stress level. For each parameter, the optimal range of values were determined to be used as a guide for the design of such systems.