Geometric features,prestress analysis,and experimental study of sunflower three-strut cable dome

Abstract

Cable dome structures are innovative architectural forms known for their architectural and structural advantages, making them popular in academic research and practical applications worldwide. Cable dome structures, both single-strut and multiple-strut types, are categorized into nine distinct types. This paper introduces a novel dome structure, the “sunflower three-strut cable dome,” which exhibits advantageous geometric features and mechanical properties when compared to existing cable dome types. It surpasses them in terms of topology, component and node count, structural mechanical attributes, and construction simplicity. Furthermore, no cable dome structure can exist without prestress, making the prestressed state a critical mechanical property. We establish general recursion formulas for internal forces in each component based on nodal equilibrium equations. Two practical design tables for the initial prestress state, tailored to various geometric parameters, are presented by these formulas. Subsequently, we analyze the distribution of prestressed states and tensioning characteristics both theoretically and experimentally. This study provides a theoretical foundation for designing and constructing the new multiple-strut cable dome.