• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.45-55
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• 2017

The objective of this study is to estimate the mechanical characteristics and nonlinear behaviors on the geometric nonlinear analysis of curved cable-membrane roof systems for long span lightweight roof structures. The weight of a cable-membrane roof dramatically can reduce, but the single layer cable-membrane roof systems are too flexible and difficult to achieve the required structural stiffness. A curved cable roof system with reverse curvature works more effectively as a load bearing system, the pretension of cables can easily increase the structural stiffness. The curved cable roof system can transmit vertical loads in up and downward direction, and work effectively as a load bearing structure to resists self-weights, snow and wind loads. The nonlinear behavior and mechanical characteristics of a cable roof system has greatly an affect by the sag and pretension. This paper is carried out analyzing and comparing the tensile forces and deflection of curved roof systems by vertical loads. The elements for analysis uses a tension only cable element and a triangular membrane element with 3 degree of freedom in each node. The authors will show that the curved cable-membrane roof system with reverse curvature is a very lightweight and small deformation roof for external loads.