Experimental and numerical study on stability behavior of reticulated shell composed of plate members

Steel plates have great potential in being used as main structural members in single-layer reticulated shells (SLRS). The main advantages of steel plates include high-precision and flexible outline shape fabrication as well as convenient transportation and storage, which make them suitable for curved surface structures. To improve the buckling resistance of plate members, two strengthening methods, i.e., double-limb method and sub-unit method, are introduced. In this study, the stability behavior of a 3.27 m x 3.27 m spherical SLRSs strengthened by using the proposed methods is comprehensively investigated via an experimental test and a finite element (FE) simulation. Specifically, the equivalent FE models for double-limb plate members and semirigid joints are proposed. The comparison results indicate that the presented FE model is effective for predicting the development of member stress and the structural ultimate load. Then parametric analysis is conducted, which reveals the effects of the sub-units, the bending stiffness of the joints and the geometric imperfection on the structural stability. The results obtained in this study may provide guidance for the design and analysis of this type of structure. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.