LAUSR

Abstract Most of the existing studies on reticulated shells with a semi-rigid joint system have been focused on the mechanical properties under static loads. Taking material and geometric nonlinearities into account, the finite element analysis (FEA) model of a single-layer reticulated shell with semi-rigid joints was established using the software ABAQUS and then validated through comparison with the experimental result. Based on the bending stiffness of a bolt-column (BC) joint obtained through experiments, the dynamic behaviour and a seismic design method for single-layer reticulated shells with semi-rigid joints were investigated in this paper. First, analysis of the free vibration frequency of the single-layer latticed domes with semi-rigid bolt-column (BC) joints was conducted based on several different parameters, including joint stiffness, ratio of rise to span, initial geometric imperfection. Second, the seismic internal force coefficient of the members of the semi-rigidly jointed spherical single-layer reticulated shells of different parameters was studied in detail. Finally, the seismic internal force coefficients for spherical single-layer reticulated shells with semi-rigid joints under a common earthquake were derived.