TENSILE STRUCTURES CABLE-NET METHOD

Sotiris Sotiriou May 2006

Abstract
Tension Structures - Cable Net Method by Sotiris Sotiriou
In recent decades tensile structures have become very popular due to their notable advantages. Tension Structures are very light, exible, capable to cover long spans and ecient in the use of dierent materials. However, the analysis process is particularly challenging. The necessity of the form-nding procedure and the need of the large displacement theory make tensile structure analysis a complicated and time-consuming process. Practical analysis generally does not require accounting for non-linear material properties. Finite element method and Cable net method can be used for the analysis of tensile structures. Cable net models are commonly used in the design of those types of structures because they are very physical more simple and need less computer power. This project deals with theoretical and computer programming techniques used in the numerical analysis of tensile cable structures. The Cable-Net method, Shape nding, and Geometric non-linear analysis, are explained extensively in terms of three dimensional application on tensile structures.

Acknowledgments
This project was written at the Department of Civil Engineering at Polytechnic University in New York. The research work was carried under the supervision of Professor J. Jong Lou. First of all, I express my gratitude to my supervisor Professor J. Jong Lou, for his scientic guidance and valuable advice, not only for this project but also for those two years of being my professor at the Polytechnic University. Finally, I would like to thank my parents and my sister for their support during my years of study.

New York, May 2006 Sotiris Sotiriou

Contents
1 Introduction 1.1 Scope of Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 History and Applications 2.1 Historical Review . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 Tensile Structural Systems . . . . . . 2.2.1 Pure Cable net Forms . . . . 2.2.2 Cable-stayed forms . . . . . . 2.2.3 Tensegrity systems . . . . . . 2.2.3.1 Cable-strut systems 2.3 Materials and Properties . . . . . . . 2.3.1 Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3.1.1 Axial Stiness . . . 2.3.2 Glass and Fabric . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 4 9 10 10 12 13 14 14 16 17 20 20 21 22 27 28 29 31

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3 Analysis Methods 3.1 Cable Net Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1.1 The Shape Finding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1.1.1 Grid Method. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2 Non Linear Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2.1 Geometric Non-Linear Analysis . . . . . . . 3.2.1.1 Geometric Stiness Matrix Method 3.2.1.2 Load Step Method . . . . . . . . . iv

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CONTENTS 3.3 Detailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 40 40 41 45 46 47 48 60 66 67 71 79 84 84 84 85 86 91 96 96 97 100 102 104 104 104 106 110

4 CableNL Software 4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2 Software Development . . . . . . . . . 4.2.1 Gauss Elimination . . . . . . . 4.2.2 Non Linear Analysis Work-Flow 4.2.2.1 LDU Subroutine . . . 4.3 Users Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4 Verication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5 Numerical Examples . . . . . . . . . . 4.5.1 Example. Glass Wall . . . . . . 4.5.2 Example. Fabric Roof . . . . . 5 Conclusions A CableNL Verication Examples A.1 Shape Finding . . . . . . . . . . . A.1.1 LAYOUT.FOR Input . A.1.2 LAYOUT.FOR Output . A.1.3 CableNL Input . . . . . A.1.4 CableNL Output . . . . A.2 Non Linear Analysis . . . . . . . A.2.1 TR3DNL.FOR Input . . A.2.2 TR3DNL.FOR Output . A.2.3 CableNL Input . . . . . A.2.4 CableNL Output . . . .

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B CableNL Numerical Examples B.1 Glass wall example . . . . . . . . . . . B.1.1 Input File: UBS Building.cn-in B.1.2 Analysis Parameters: . . . . . . B.1.3 Non Linear Analysis Results: .

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CONTENTS B.2 Fabric B.2.1 B.2.2 B.2.3 Roof Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . Input File: Roof Example.cn-in . . . Force Balance and Joint Coordinates: Non Linear Analysis Results: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 112 115 120

vi

List of Figures
1.1 Membrane Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 Cable-Net Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 Pneumatic Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 Dorton Arena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arenas structural system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The German Pavilion in Montreal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cable-net cooling tower, Schmehausen 1968 . . . . . . . . . . Cable Net Tower, Structural System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S Pavilion Expo 70 in Osaka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Olympic Stadium of Munich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Munich Olympic games 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgia Dome, Atlanta 1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgia Dome, Roof indoor view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Millennium Dome, Aerial view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Millennium Dome, Side view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Time Warner, Cable net wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cable net Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vertical Cable String. Reproduced from [2] . . . . . . . . . . . Cable State basic unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cable girder dome, Form with opening. Reproduced from [2] Cable girder dome. Reproduced from Mero Structures. . . . . Geibers Dome. Reproduced from [2] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 5 5 5 6 6 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 10 11 11 11 12 12 13

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LIST OF FIGURES 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 Spatially triangulated dome. Reproduced from [2] Cable-strut form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wire Rope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wire rope, right and left hand lays. . . . . . . . . Stress/Strain Curve for Steel and Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 13 14 15 18 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 31 37 38 38 39 42 43 44 51 53 54 60 61 61 61 61 62 65 66

The Force Density Method for bar elements . . . . . . . . . . The Grid Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grid Method, Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CableNL, Smoothed Geometry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Force - Displacement curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P and P eect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plane Truss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patterning: Triangle Strips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In plane restraints at bolted connections. Reproduced form [4] Turnbuckle to swaged eye termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eye and U-clips cable termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CableNL owchart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shape Finding owchart . . . . . . . . . . . . . non linear analysis, owchart . . . . . . . . . . . Symmetric Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Geometry Input - Brava Viewer . . . . . . . . . Analysis Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scaled Deformed Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plan View. Use 1/8 of the structure. . . . . . . Joint and members labels of 1/8 of the structure CableNL, Input Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . CableNL, Output Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . CableNL, Joint Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plane Cable-net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Non-linear analysis, deformed shape . . . . . . . viii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LIST OF FIGURES 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 Maximum displacements . . . . . . . . . . . . UBS Tower. Cable net glass wall. . . . . . . . Transform load to joints . . . . . . . . . . . . Elevation of a Typical Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . CableNL, Deformed Shape. Scale factor equals Horizontal maximum displacements . . . . . . Vertical maximum displacements . . . . . . . Joint Loads. Triangular panels . . . . . . . . . Roof - Geomerty Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Shape after grid method . . . . . . . . . Roof. Analysis Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . Deformed shape. Scale Factor two . . . . . . . Roof, side view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vertical maximum displacements (ft) . . . . . Horizontal maximum displacements (ft) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . four. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 67 68 70 71 71 71 73 75 75 76 77 78 78 78

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List of Tables
2.1 Mechanical Properties of Steel Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 Comparison of Polyester and Fiberglass characteristics . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 Mechanical Properties of Glass. Pilkington Technical Information ATS129 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Shape Finding. Free joints coordinates Joint Force Balance . . . . . . . . . . . Shape Finding. Member Forces . . . . Total displacements (in) . . . . . . . . Member Forces (lbs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 18 19 62 63 63 64 65

Chapter 1 Introduction
Every part of a tensile structure is loaded only in tension, with no requirement to resist compression or bending forces. The basic types of tension structures are: Membranes: The structural membrane acts also as the weather shield. Fig:1.1 Cable Nets: A separate grid of structural cables supports a nonstructural weather shield. Fig:1.2 Pneumatics: The tension force is created by an interior positive pressure and the membrane acts as the weather shield. Fig:1.3

Figure 1.1: Membrane Structure

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Tensile structures have always fascinated architects and engineers, mainly because of their special features. Aesthetic shapes, light weight and exibility, combined with new materials, make tension structures the new trend in architectural design.

Figure 1.2: Cable-Net Structure

Figure 1.3: Pneumatic Structure

However, these special features require special design, that makes the analysis much more complicated. Due to absence of exural stiness of cables and membranes, the initial conguration of these structures must be stressed. Thus, before the analysis, the initial geometry conguration must be found. The shape of a tensile structure, governs the load-bearing capacity of the structure. Therefore, the process of determining the initial equilibrium conguration, calls the designers ability to nd an optimum compromise between shape, load capacity and constructional requirements. After the shape nding procedure, geometrical nonlinear analysis is required due to a high degree of exibility of the structure.

1.1

Scope of Work

The scope of this work is to familiarize the reader, with the challenging design of tension Structures. According to Campbel 1 , no other class of architectural structural systems
D. Campbel. The Unique Role of Computing in the Design and Construction of Tensile Membrane Structures.
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CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION is as dependent upon the use of digital computers as are tensile structures. The project goes beyond the theoretical approach with the development of a computer software.

1.2

Organization

The project consists of three major parts. The rst part will be a general overview about history, applications and materials that are used for tension structures. The second part will focus on the analysis procedures using theCable net method. The third part will be a brief description about the developed software CableNL.