Analysis of stabilizing process for stress-erection of Strarch frame

The stress-erection process is a unique feature of the Strarch system; this study examined the stabilizing process for this method. In the stress-erection process, post-tensioning is performed by installing a jacking tendon force inside the bottom chord member to determine the structural shape and initial stability. Before erection is completed, the structural system of a Strarch frame is unstable. The prestress installation process of the Strarch system is similar to that of a cable dome, which is also an unstable structure. Therefore, the dynamic relaxation method with kinetic damping, which is a stabilizing process for unstable structures, can be used for the Strarch system. The stabilizing process was verified by comparing the results of simple calculations and an experimental study using an actual-scale Strarch frame unit. The numerical applicability and accuracy of the method was further validated by analysis of the stabilizing process for the stress-erection of different Strarch models.