Stability of reticulated shells considering member buckling

In order to understand the influence of member buckling on the stability of reticulated shells, a key problem of how to distinguish the member buckling for reticulated shell structures was pointed out, and judgment methods of member buckling were obtained. Using a Kiewitt-8 dome as an example, the buckling characteristic and propagation rule of member buckling were studied. Meanwhile, a reticulated dome model tested was analyzed and compared by using the finite element software ANSYS. Judgment results of member buckling and the influence of member buckling on the structure were obtained. The judgment results accorded well with the test. Then taking the member buckling into consideration, the effect of material nonlinearity, initial geometrical imperfections, and member size on the stability of the members and the reticulated shell structures were investigated. The results show that the methods adopted can judge the member buckling for reticulated shell structures effectively; the member buckling and its propagation can affect the stability of the structure directly.

► We study stability of reticulated shells considering member buckling.
► We adopt two methods to judge the member buckling for reticulated shells.
► We validate the judgment method through the comparison with a dome model tested.
► We conduct parametric research on stability of structure considering member buckling.
► Member buckling and its propagation can affect the stability of structure directly.