Computational method for prestress developing of tensile cable-net structures

The prestress developing of tensile cable-net structures is a state transforming process from the initial unstressed state to the final prestressed state, and it is rather complicated because the elastic deformation is normally coupled with the kinematic mechanism movement. Firstly, the basic equations of prestress developing by moving boundary joint are derived from the total potential energy equation. Secondly, the presumed initial tension is proposed to impose into the elements and avoid the singularity of global stiffness matrix. And the self-stress mode which is calculated from the equilibrium matrix with singular value decomposition is employed as basically presumed initial tension. By applying boundary movement increment, an iterative computation is developed to calculate the updating geometric configuration and tension evolution. Finally, the MATLAB program is coded from the presented method, and numerical examples indicate that this computational method is effective and has theoretical significance and valuable guide to design and construction of tensile cable-net structure.