CONFIGURATION AND PRESTRESSING DISTRIBUTION OF THE HONEYCOMB-TYPE CABLE DOME WITH THREE STRUTS

A novel type of three-strut honeycomb-type cable dome, with upper chords forming a honeycomb-shaped grid structure and three struts converging at the lower chord node, was studied. The Fuller's structural principle of isolated struts in compression inside a net of tensile cables with one vertical strut between upper and lower chord nodes was not adopted. The new type of three-strut honeycomb-type cable dome had fewer hoops and oblique cables, and also had better stability for struts and the overall structure. The general calculation formulas were presented to determine the pre-stressing force distribution of honeycomb-type cable dome based on the equilibrium equation of each nodal point. The calculation table and many examples of cable dome structures under different parameters were given to fully understand the pre-stressing distribution and the mechanical behavior of honeycomb-type cable dome. This study provides new forms and ideas for the design of cable domes.