Pre-stressing method and structural behaviour of a Tensairity dome with multiple inflated cushions

This paper describes a novel type of Tensairity dome, which is composed of a tensegrity cable dome and several inflated cushions. The cushions and cable dome act as a whole in synergy, and the introduction of compressed air, which is an important part of the structure, extends the tensegrity concept. This study builds an illustrative numerical model and examines the feasibility of the proposed structure. The inflating amount of air for each cushion and influence of the inflating sequence are considered. The effect of the internal air pressure on the structural behaviour is investigated for several different load cases. The results demonstrate that pre-stressing can be introduced by inflating the cushions instead of the tensioning cables, which greatly facilitates the construction. The novel structure exhibits effective stiffness and integrity in several possible conditions, and the internal air pressure of approximately 500-3500 Pa can ensure the tensioning role of the cushions. The air pressure values should be determined according to the environmental conditions of the construction site.