Mechanical properties of a hybrid cable dome under non-uniform snow distribution

Abstract An oval (unequal-height periphery) hybrid cable dome structural system is put forward, and is firstly adopted in the roof of an indoor stadium with hectometer-level in China. In this study, a 1:15 scale model of the roof structure was made and taken as a research object. Then a static load test was performed on the model, considering 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 regional distribution of snow loads. By comparing the experimental results with ANSYS numerical simulation results, the influences of different snow distribution forms on the mechanical properties of the hybrid cable dome structure were obtained. Several relatively adverse snow distribution forms were selected to conduct a whole load process analysis of the structure, considering geometric nonlinearity. Results indicated that, under the action of snow loads with half-span distribution along 45° axis and diagonal half-span distribution along long axis, much lower structural bearing capacity would be obtained. Accordingly, a parametric analysis was implemented, considering the effect of initial prestress and cable cross section, and the influence laws of the two factors on the mechanical properties of the hybrid cable dome structure were acquired. Consequently, a theoretical basis was provided for the analysis and design of this new-type cable dome structure and its engineering application.