Pretension process control based on cable force observation values for prestressed space grid structures

Pointing to the design requirement of prestressed space grid structure being the target cable force, the pretension scheme decision analysis method is studied when there's great difference between structural actual state and the analytical model. Based on recursive formulation of cable forces, the simulative recursive system for pretension process is established from the systematic viewpoint, including four kinds of parameters, i.e., system initial value (structural initial state), system input value (tensioning control force scheme), system state parameters (influence matrix of cable forces), system output value (pretension accomplishment). The system controllability depends on the system state parameters. Based on cable force observation values, the influence matrix for system state parameters can be calculated, making the system controllable. Next, the pretension scheme decision method based on cable force observation values can be formed on the basis of iterative calculation for recursive system. In this way, the tensioning control force scheme that can meet the design requirement when next cyclic supplemental tension finished is obtained. Engineering example analysis results show that the proposed method in this paper can reduce a lot of cyclic tensioning work and meanwhile the design requirement can be met.