Experimental and numerical research on the structural behaviour of a Tensairity dome

This paper introduces a novel Tensairity dome that combines the strengths of flexible members and rigid members. The structural performance for inflation, symmetric loading, and asymmetric loading is studied experimentally and numerically to show the application potential of the proposed structure. In the experiment, deformations were measured in a series of positions along the radial struts. The internal forces in the struts and cables were obtained using strain gauges during inflation and external loading. The load–displacement curves, variations of internal forces, and failure modes for the hybrid structure are discussed. The results indicate that the air pressure plays a critical role in introducing pre-stress to the structural system to obtain the ability to withstand external loads. Subsequently, a refined finite-element model was developed for nonlinear analysis and validated using the test results, demonstrating the effectiveness of the simulation method for the hybrid inflatable structures. This study reveals the structural principle of the proposed system and demonstrates its feasibility in construction engineering.