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Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering >> 2012, Volume 6, Issue 3 doi: 10.1007/s11709-012-0166-6

Application and development of modern long-span space structures in China

1. Space Structures Research Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; 2. The Architectural Design and Research Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510010, China

Available online: 2012-09-05

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Abstract

Modern long-span space structures, developed during the 1970s and 1980s, are light and effective structures based on new technologies and light-weight high-strength materials, such as membranes and steel cables. These structures include air-supported membrane structures, cable-membrane structures, cable truss structures, beam string structures, suspen-domes, cable domes, composite structures of cable dome and single-layer lattice shell, Tensairity structures and so forth. For the premodern space structures widely used since the mid-twentieth century (such as thin shells, space trusses, lattice shells and ordinary cable structures), new space structures have been developed by the combination of different structural forms and materials. The application of prestressing technology and the innovation of structural concepts and configurations are also associated with modern space structures, including composite space trusses, open-web grid structures, polyhedron space frame structures, partial double-layer lattice shells, cable-stayed grid structures, tree-type structures, prestressed segmental steel structures and so forth. This paper provides a review of the structural characteristics and practical applications in China of modern rigid space structures, modern flexible space structures and modern rigid-flexible combined space structures.

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