Collapse of Shallow Lattice Domes

Abstract

A numerical and experimental study of the collapse and postcollapse behavior of shallow lattice domes is presented. The numerical analysis is based on an updated Lagrangian, materially and geometrically nonlinear, displacement‐based finite‐element program. The formulation incorporated in the program can detect plasticity, instability, and finite deflection effects in the dome structure. Warping effects are ignored. The solution of the nonlinear stiffness equations is designed so that critical points on the equilibrium path are identified in the results. A method is used to obtain the lowest bifurcation path of a perfect lattice dome, once it is established that there is a bifurcation point on its primary equilibrium path. Limit point behavior is detected automatically. A shallow model dome was tested experimentally in a purpose‐built test rig. The experimental results presented are compared with the corresponding numerical predictions and good agreement between them is demonstrated.