Initial Stress Caused by Geometrical Errors on a Two-Dimensional Large Modular Structure

Abstract

To construct large space structures, a modularized structure as an assembling structure has been proposed. Non-ideal modular structure has geometrical errors such as errors in manufacturing and assembling. These geometrical errors cause initial stress in statically indeterminate structure. In this paper, we analyze initial stress on a two-dimensional large modular structure constructed by equilateral triangle or square modules. The geometrical errors are assumed to follow a Gaussian distribution. Numerical simulation using random numbers is carried out to investigate the maximum initial stress and its special distribution. The result shows that maximum initial stress of the structure follows an extreme value distribution because the stress of most members are independent and identically distributed. Space distribution of maximum stress does not have peak since structure is symmetry. Although the initial stress increases as the degrees of indeterminacy increase, the maximum value is not divergent but converge to a value. This result suggests that the geometrical error accumulation does not cause extremely large initial stress.