Out-of-plane elastic buckling load and strength design of space truss arch with a rectangular section

The out-of-plane stability of the two-hinged space truss circular arch with a rectangular section is theoretically and numerically investigated in this paper. Firstly, the flexural stiffness and torsional stiffness of space truss arches are deduced. The calculation formula of out-of-plane elastic buckling loads of the space truss arch is derived based on the classical solution of out-of-plane flexural-torsional buckling loads of the solid web arch. However, since the classical solution cannot be used for the calculation of the arch with a small rise-span ratio, the formula for out-of-plane elastic buckling loads of space truss arches subjected to end bending moments is modified. Numerical research of the out-of-plane stability of space truss arches under different load cases shows that the theoretical formula proposed in this paper has good accuracy. Secondly, the design formulas to predict the out-of-plane elastoplastic stability strength of space truss arches subjected to the end bending moment and radial uniform load are presented through introducing a normalized slenderness ratio. By assuming that all components of space truss circular arches bear only axial force, the design formulas to prevent the local buckling of chord and transverse tubes are deduced. Finally, the bearing capacity design equations of space truss arches are proposed under vertical uniform load.