Numerical Analysis of Steel Geodesic Dome under Seismic Excitations

Area of Science:

• Structural Engineering
• Earthquake Engineering
• Computational Mechanics

Background:

• Geodesic domes offer lightweight, large-span structures with aesthetic appeal.
• Steel is a preferred material for domes due to its strength-to-weight ratio.
• Designing domes for seismic resilience is crucial in earthquake-prone regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the seismic performance of two geodesic dome designs.
• To compare the structural response of domes based on different spherical triangle subdivision methods.
• To provide insights for designing robust geodesic domes in seismic zones.

Main Methods:

• Finite Element Method (FEM) using a numerical program.
• Analysis of two steel geodesic dome models with similar element counts.
• Application of four distinct seismic excitations.
• Time History analysis for dynamic response evaluation.

Main Results:

• Quantified maximum displacements, axial forces, velocities, and accelerations for both dome types.
• Demonstrated the influence of different seismic excitations on structural behavior.
• Highlighted variations in response attributed to the two geodesic subdivision methods.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a comparative analysis of geodesic dome behavior under seismic loads.
• Results offer valuable data for engineers and architects designing structures in seismically active areas.
• Understanding the impact of subdivision methods enhances the seismic design of geodesic domes.