Author(s)

Junyu Chen¹, Yanfei Wang², Ke Chen³, Shiqing Huang^1,4*, Xiaowen Xu^4*

¹MOE Key Lab of Disaster Forecast and Control in Engineering, School of Mechanics and Construction Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
²China Construction Second Engineering Bureau Second Company, Shenzhen, China.
³Department of Civil Engineering, Dazhou Technician College, Dazhou, China.
⁴Key Laboratory of Product Packaging and Logistics, Packaging Engineering Institute, College of Packaging Engineering, Jinan University, Zhuhai, China.

The precise control of the shape of transversely stiffened suspended cable systems is crucial. However, existing form-finding methods primarily rely on iterative calculations that treat loads as fixed known conditions. These methods are inefficient and fail to accurately control shape results. In this study, we propose a form-finding method that analyzes the load response of models under different sag and stress levels, taking into account the construction process. To analyze the system, a structural finite element model was established in ANSYS, and geometric nonlinear analysis was conducted using the Newton-Raphson method. The form-finding analysis results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves precise control of shape, with a maximum shape error ranging from 0.33% to 0.98%. Furthermore, the relationships between loads and tension forces are influenced by the deformed shape of the structures, exhibiting significant geometric nonlinear characteristics. Meanwhile, the load response analysis reveals that the stress level of the self-equilibrium state in the transversely stiffened suspended cable system is primarily governed by strength criteria, while shape is predominantly controlled by stiffness criteria. Importantly, by simulating the initial tensioning process as an initial condition, this method solves for a counterweight that satisfies the requirements and achieves a self-equilibrium state with the desired shape. The shape of the self-equilibrium state is precisely controlled by simulating the construction process. Overall, this work presents a new method for analyzing the form-finding process of large-span transversely stiffened suspended cable system, considering the construction process which was often overlooked in previous studies.

Cable Structure, Long-Span Structure, Form-Finding Analysis, Finite Element Simulation, Transverse Cable Stiffening System

Chen, J. , Wang, Y. , Chen, K. , Huang, S. and Xu, X. (2024) Analyzing the Form-Finding of a Large-Span Transversely Stiffened Suspended Cable System: A Method Considering Construction Processes. World Journal of Engineering and Technology, 12, 229-244. doi: 10.4236/wjet.2024.122015.