Stability capacity design of grid cylindrical-lattice shells loaded axially

This paper presents the stability behaviours and capacity design of the grid cylindrical-lattice shell (GCLS) which consists mainly of the multi-columns located circumferentially and the multi-story ring-beams uniformly distributed along the height. The GCLS under axial compression is investigated in the stability capacity by using a finite element model that has been validated by an experimental investigation carried previously out by the authors. A large number of numerical examples of GCLSs covering a common design range of engineering applications are analyzed numerically by employing the validated finite element (FE) model to investigate the ultimate load-carrying capacity, and accordingly a stability capacity design method regarding the compression stability coefficient φN and the normalized slenderness ratio λN is established. Based on a design criterion that the failure of the ring beams does not precede the multi-column instability, the strength design formula of the ring beam is proposed accordingly and validated by using FE numerical results. In summary, this paper supplies a complete design method for predicting the stability capacity of the GCLSs as well as strength check of the ring beams in the GCLSs under axial compression. This study lays a preliminary research foundation for subsequent research on the stability capacity design of GCLSs under a combined action of axial compression and bending moment.