An automated parametric investigation of geodesic domes is conducted in this study. A brief description of the stiffness method of matrix structural analysis is included in addition to a discussion of the fully-stressed design procedure via the stress-ratio method. Automated solution algorithms based on the stiffness method are utilized in the development of WATFIV/FORTRAN computer codes to analyze space trusses and space frames.
Several geodesic dome demonstration problems are formulated and subjected to axisymmetric and asymmetric loads to ascertain the three-dimensional load distribution characteristics of these structures. Shallowness effects are investigated and a demonstration problem is modified to determine the load distribution characteristics in a geodesic dome evenly supported about its base perimeter. Analysis results are recorded and presented along with commentary and conclusions. Several suggestions for further study are also provided.
The WATFIV/FORTRAN computer code for space truss analysis is modified to include a stress-ratio algorithm for an automated fully-stressed design procedure. Numerical results obtained from a computer-aided design of a geodesic dome demonstration problem are provided in the appendix. / Master of Science
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/64651 |
| Date | January 1978 |
| Creators | Jones, Cecil Allen |
| Contributors | Civil Engineering |
| Publisher | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Text |
| Format | xi, 127 leaves, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | OCLC# 39901003 |
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