Stability of large-span single-layer cylindrical reticulated shells supported along four edges

To widen the span range available for single-layer cylindrical reticulated shells, parameter analyses based upon nonlinear complete-process analysis were carried out. More than 400 examples of single-layer cylindrical reticular shells with width of 20 meters and supported along the four edges were calculated by finite element method software ANSYS and self-developed pre- and post-processing programs. The buckling modes, critical loads, plastic development levels were collected to investigate the effect of length-width ratio, rise-span ratio, initial geometric imperfection, and unsymmetrical distribution of loads. The results show that single-layer cylindrical reticular shells supported along the edges are still characterized by bending action, and the central regions of shell structure are the most sensitive areas. When the length-width ratio becomes larger, it is necessary to add the stiffening ribs to enhance the rigidity of shells, and the spacing of which should be set to make the length-width ratio be 1.0. The cylindrical reticulated shells are concluded to be sensitive to initial geometric imperfection, when the initial imperfection value reaches 1/300 of the width, the critical loads of reticulated shell will be reduced by 30%. And when the loads are unsymmetrical distributed with p/g=1.0, the critical loads will be 86%-94% of those under symmetrical loading distribution.