Investigation into the Stability Behavior of Single-Layer Triple Domes Free-Form Reticulated Space Structure (Triangular Novation)

Free form surfaces are referred to as a combination of double-curved surfaces, which are not necessarily a combination of common geometric shapes such as cubic, spherical and elliptic shapes or a combination of them (Tian, 2004). Two types of instability occur in space structures: limit point instability and bifurcation point instability. The structures that exhibit bifurcation point instability, have more sensitivity to geometric imperfection (in particular the type of node deviation) than limit point instability. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the sensitivity to imperfection in these structures, particularly single layer dome structures. So far, no research has been conducted on triple domes free form space structures. Therefore, in the present paper, the numerical finite element method is used to analyze and study the instability behavior of triple domes free form single-layer space structure.  In this research, the approximate-perturbed method and the method of generalized conformable imperfection mode were used to implement imperfection.