DESIGN OF GEODESIC DOME STRUCTURES

摘要

This paper presents a MathCAD finite element application for Fuller's dome structures. The dome's structure is generated introducing the radius of external sphere. For architectural reasons, some of the theoretical nodes of structures can be omitted. The introduction of material's properties and the geometrical parameters of the bars are the next step. After the assemblage of the stiffness matrix, the restraints and the forces are applied for several loading cases. The nodal displacements are calculated and the distorted structure is drawn, for each loading case. The structure's bars are checked at traction, bending and buckling. The welded joins are also calculated and the resonance frequencies of the dome.