Influence of Friction on Pre-Stressing Construction of Suspen-Dome Structures

Suspension dome structures are widely utilized due to their superior performance compared to conventional structures. The condition of the cables, particularly the forces they experience, is critical for ensuring the safety of the overall structures. However, friction between cables and joints significantly disrupts cable force distribution, particularly during pre-stressing construction. This paper integrates a tension-compensation method with a numerical approach that accurately accounts for friction effects. A computational flowchart was introduced and subsequently applied to analyze a practical suspension dome structure. We assessed the impact of friction on cable forces, structural deformations, and the mechanical state of the cable–strut system. Furthermore, we quantified the consequences of excessive tensioning. The findings demonstrate that the method presented in this paper can efficiently be employed for the analysis of large-scale complex structures and is readily accessible to structural designers.