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Structural Integrity of Space Trusses

by Erling Murtha-Smith, (M.ASCE), Univ of Connecticut, Storrs, United States,
Anurag Chaturvedi, Univ of Connecticut, Storrs, United States,
Shawn F. Leary, Univ of Connecticut, Storrs, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Spatial, Lattice and Tension Structures

Abstract:

Space trusses of the double layer grid configuration can experience rapid propagation of failure in the ultimate load condition and thus are potentially vulnerable to progressive collapse - collapse due to localized damage at loads less than the normal design load values. Structural integrity is a term used to indicate resistance of a structure to progressive collapse following localized damage. Results of a study is reported which used both linear and nonlinear methods of analysis investigating the effect on the structural integrity of the locations of supports and load levels at member loss. The results indicate that space trusses with perimeter supports appear to just have sufficient structural integrity to survive the loss of a critical member whereas space trusses with supports placed at the four corners do not appear able to survive critical member loss at the appropriate load levels for this condition.

Subject Headings: Ultimate loads | Trusses | Structural failures | Failure loads | Structural analysis | Space structures | Failure analysis

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