REDUCED STIFFNESS ANALYSIS USING A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CODE AND ITS APPLICATION TO LATTICE DOME BUCKLING PROBLEM

Abstract

This study proposes an alternative reduced stiffness analytical procedure using a commercially available finite element code and discusses its application to the buckling problem of single layer lattice domes under vertical loading. The present reduced stiffness analytical results are compared with a fully nonlinear finite element analysis considering initial imperfections. It is suggested that the reduced stiffness analysis provides a simple and reliable estimation for elastic and elastic-plastic design buckling loads in the lattice dome buckling problem.