Study of Dynamic Collapse of Single Layer Reticular Domes Subjected to Earthquake Motion and the Estimation of Statically Equivalent Seismic Forces

Abstract

The present paper investigates the dynamic response characteristics of single layer reticular domes subjected to horizontal earthquake motions from the following view points: (1) how to estimate the statically equivalent seismic forces applied to domes both for high rise and low rise; and (2) how to estimate the collapse accelerations under which the domes collapse dynamically. For these purposes, linear response analyses, linear buckling analyses, geometrically and materially nonlinear static analyses and geometrically and materially nonlinear earthquake response analyses are performed. Based on the results, the collapse accelerations are expressed as a function of the safety factor for domes under self weight. The expression for the collapse accelerations leads to an approximate measure by which structural designers may balance the static resistant capacity under self weight and the dynamic resistant capacity under earthquake motions.