Abstract: To achieve a balanced distribution of component redundancy in the single-layer reticulated shell structure and to enhance its ultimate bearing capacity, we used the component redundancy evaluation method that based on sensitivity analysis to measure the importance of components in the structure. The structural components were divided into three types, important components, general components and secondary components according to the redundancy. The cross-section size of components was taken as the optimization variable, and the minimization of the sum of the standard deviations of the redundancy of all structural components and the components of different types was taken as the objective function. In the optimization the particle swarm optimization method was used to search for the optimal solution of the cross-section size of structural components. The results show that the redundancy coefficient of structural component can accurately reflect its importance in structure and its influence on structural performance after it is damaged, a reasonable distribution of the cross-section size of components can be realized by reducing the difference of the redundancy of structural components, and the overall performance and ultimate bearing capacity of the structure can be improved effectively.