Optimal design of spoke double-layer cable-net structures based on an energy principle

An optimal design method for a spoke double-layer cable-net structure (SDLC) is proposed in this study. Simplified calculation models of the SDLC are put forward to reveal the static responses under vertical loads and wind loads. Next, based on an energy principle, the relationship among the initial prestress level, cross-sectional areas of the components, rise height, sag height, overall displacement, and relative deformation is proposed. Moreover, a calculation model of the Foshan Center SDLC is built and optimized. Given the limited loading cases, material properties of the components, and variation ranges of the rise height and sag height, the self-weight and initial prestress level of the entire structure can be obtained. Because the self-weight of the cables decreases with increasing of the rise height and sag height, while the self-weight of the inner strut increases, the total weight of the entire structure successively exhibits a sharp reduction, a gradual decrease, a slow increase, and a sharp increase during the optimization process. For the simplified model, the optimal design corresponds to the combination of rise height and sag height that results in an appropriate prestress level of the entire structure with the minimum total weight.