Stability Analysis of Double Layer Barrel Vaults Equipped with Accordion Force Limiting Device

Space structures are the best solution for covering large areas with few or no intermediate supports. These structures have advantages such as light weight, delicate appearance and ease of erection. Despite these advantages, space structures suffer from progressive collapse due to buckling of compression members. In order to prevent the progressive collapse and improve the double layer space structure’s response, several mechanisms have been developed including force limiting devices (FLDs). The available FLDs have never been practically applied to space structures due to serious drawbacks. To improve the previous FLD’s performance, an innovative type of force limiting device is introduced in this study. This force limiting device which is entitled as Accordion Force Limiting Device (AFLD) is designed based on the idea of buckling restrained braces (BRB). To evaluate the efficiency of this new device, a whole steel accordion force limiting device is designed and constructed to be tested under uniaxial compressive loading. Numerical models are also developed to investigate the effect of applying AFLD on stability of double layer barrel vaults. A parametric study is carried out to study the effect of AFLD, considering Length to span ratio and rise to span ratio in double layer barrel vaults. Results indicated that applying AFLD to critical compression members improves the stability behavior noticeably.