Failure of single-layer reticulated cylindrical shells subjected to earthquakes

This paper addresses the study on failure mechanism of single-layer reticulated cylindrical shells subjected to severe earthquakes. Two failure modes, the dynamic instability collapse of single-layer reticulated cylindrical shells subjected to severe earthquake and strength failure resulted from excessive development of plastic deformation are described. With the consideration of the damage accumulation of steel material realized according to user subroutine (UMAT) of FEA program ABAQUS, a comprehensive numerical analysis of some single-layer reticulated cylindrical shells is carried out with the following primary parameters: different dead loads on the roof, initial geometric imperfection, and various geometric or structural parameters, such as rise-to-span ratios, length-to-width ratios. The failure characteristic and the ultimate load of single-layer reticulated cylindrical shells subjected to severe earthquakes are described, and the response regularity and failure mechanism with the change of analytic parameters are discussed. According to characteristic responses of single-layer reticulated cylindrical shells at strength failure state, the damage model indicating damage level of reticulated shells is fitted. The seismic failure criterion based on the damage model is proposed, which is used to distinguish the ultimate load of earthquake failure.