Modeling and structural behavior of cable-stiffened single-layer latticed domes of hexagonal meshes

As an effective structural system, the cable-stiffened single-layer latticed shell of quadrangular meshes have been extensively studied and used in many projects. This paper proposes the cable-stiffened single-layer latticed shell of hexagonal meshes. In order to reveal its working mechanism and evaluate its structural mechanical behavior, a geometrical modeling method for single-layer latticed dome of hexagonal meshes is presented firstly, then two planar hexagonal structures with and without cables are comparably analyzed, where the structural in-plane stiffness are compared and the influences of cable section and cable pretension on in-plane stiffness are studied, and the structural working mechanism of cable-stiffened hexagonal structure is presented. Last, three pairs of domes of hexagonal meshes with and without cables are numerically created and comparably analyzed, where the following structural behaviors are compared: (1) member strength and stability; (2) stiffness; (3) static stability. The results indicate that all the structural behaviors of single-layer latticed domes of hexagonal meshes are significantly improved by the introduction of the prestressed cables.