Numerical study on effect of member length error on structural properties of single layer pin-joined grid dome composed of wooden truss system

Abstract

This study examines a single layer three-way pin-jointed grid dome constructed from of wooden truss system. We show the effect of the member length error on the initial imperfection and nodal buckling behavior by the numerical analysis results considering geometrical nonlinearity. In numerical calculation, the member length errors are assumed to be a normal distribution. The distribution and magnitude of the initial axial force and displacement are evaluated with respect to the mean and SD (standard deviation) of the member length errors. The range of the initial imperfection and the tolerance of manufactured member length are also predicted by the mean and SD of the numerical results. The properties of nodal buckling load and buckling mode are also discussed. The nodal buckling load is mainly affected by the SD of member length error and the effect of mean of member length error on the buckling is secondary. When SD of member length error changes from zero to 0.10 cm, the mean of the nodal buckling load decreases by about 50 % and the area of nodal buckling mode changes from the overall dome to the inner region.