The geometrical non-linear response of some pre-tensioned cable structures

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Thew, Robert (1982) The geometrical non-linear response of some pre-tensioned cable structures. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

A geometrical non-linear analysis of pre-tensioned cable structures is presented. Fully consistent methods of analysis are developed from earlier work involving minimum energy search techniques.

The descent direction in the iterative process is determined by the method of conjugate gradients. The algorithm is suitable for both cable trusses and cable net structures and can include the effect of fully flexible boundaries. Convergence is obtained for all of the structural forms investigated for loadings up to the point where significant instability in the structure caused by member slackening occurs. An initial linear approximate analysis is shown to be of computational value as an initial starting point for the iterative process.

Economic form finding routines are also presented including the flexible boundary case which are of general value.

Two and three dimensional cable model experiments are devised to provide data for comparison with the theoretical analysis. The three dimensional net is constructed with fully flexible boundaries to provide a stringent test for the theory. Suitable measurement techniques are developed to record cable tensions and nodal deflections. Reservations of other writers about the vibrating wire method of tension measurement are overcome by a rigorous treatment of the theoretical analysis and a careful development of a demountable vibrating wire gauge.

Comparison between experimental and theoretical results gives generally good agreement particularly for the non-symmetrical load cases which exhibit the greatest degree of non-linear behaviour.

Item Type: Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors: Coates, R.C.
Snell, C.
Keywords: Cable structures
Subjects: T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Faculties/Schools: UK Campuses > Faculty of Engineering
Item ID: 47690
Depositing User: Airey, Ms Valerie
Date Deposited: 31 Oct 2017 08:44
Last Modified: 31 Oct 2017 08:51
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/47690

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