Form-finding analysis of actual cable-membrane projects,does not only aim to find stable shapes,but also to find suitable cable pretension distribution.Based on the nonlinear finite element method pattern theory,it was proposed a method considering cable force-finding from the appropriate moment in the process of form-finding analysis.According to whether and when to consider force-finding of cables in the process of form-finding,three form-finding cases were considered.From analytic results,only the method considering cable force-finding from the appropriate moment could get a stable shape and a proper cable pretension distribution.Using the new method,the roof of a large cable-membrane stadium named Foshan Century Lotus was analyzed.It was found that the method could be used for the analysis of shape-finding and force-finding of large cable-membrane structures rapidly and effectively.
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