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An Overview of Analysis and Design of a Single-Layer Reticulated Inverted Monk

Bowl Dome

Conference Paper · November 2015

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Naveed Anwar Pramin Norachan

Asian Institute of Technology Asian Institute of Technology
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 An Overview of Analysis and Design of a Single-Layer Reticulated
Inverted Monk Bowl Dome

N. Anwar
AIT Consulting, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand, nanwar@ait.asia,

P. Norachan,
AIT Consulting, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand, pramin@ait.asia

P. Warnitchai,
Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand, pennung.ait@gmail.com

T. Htut Aung,
AIT Consulting, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand, thaunghtutaung@ait.asia

Abstract

This paper provides a broad overview of some of the key factors in the analysis and design of single-layer
reticulated domes to be considered by structural engineers interested in the field of steel space frame structures. The
geometry of the dome which is presented in the present paper is not conventional dome. The dome is “Inverted monk
bowl” in shape with the largest diameter at the quarter height. The dome is used as temple including a tall Buddha
statue inside. It is a single-layer latticed steel dome, resting on the reinforced concrete circular base structure. The
dome is approximately 65 m. in diameter at the base, while the diameter at mid-height is about 86 m. Staged
construction analysis was performed in order to evaluate the performance of the structural components under
construction. In this study, wind loads acting on the dome were evaluated based on both conventional design guidelines
and wind tunnel test. The simultaneous pressure measurement on the 1:300 scale model of the dome in the wind tunnel
was conducted to determine the realistic wind pressure. Direct integration approach was employed to find the dynamic
responses of the dome under time-history wind pressures. The response spectrum analysis based on DBE level was
used for earthquake loading assignment. All load cases were combined as load combinations. Finally, the demand
over capacity (D/C) ratios of structural components such as the foundations, columns, beams and steel frames were
carried out to evaluate performances of the structural members. The paper discusses several interesting aspects of the
analysis, design and construction process including development of modular construction and steel modular
connection.

1. Introduction

The use of single-layer reticulated structures has recently increased due to their capacity to
cover large areas with variety of shapes, light weight and without intermediate support. The span
of reticulated domes have increased gradually in recent years. For example, the diameter of the
Formosa plastics storage facility dome in Taiwan is about 122 m. The diameter of the roof of the
Walkup Sky dome in Northern Arizona University is 153 m, and the diameter of Nagoya Dome,
which is supported on the frame column on stands is approximate 187 m [1].

Most of these domes are, however, conventional and semi spherical forms with large
diameter at the base. Such forms mostly produce consistent in-plane shell responses and radial
tension at the base. In this paper, the dome which is presented here is derived from the shape of an
inverted monk's bowl with the largest diameter at about quarter height. The form is neither purely

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spherical nor parabolic, but rather a combination of several forms. The dome is almost no out-of-
plane stiffness available. As a result, the challenge is the main in-plane (primarily tension and
compression) force in the pipes that make up the dome surface. In addition, with the large are in
resisting wind load, it is also important to determine the global and local wind responses for the
overall stability of the structure and for controlling the out-of-plane response. These present a
challenge in terms of the determinations of proper response and designing for the appropriate
demand. An overview of analysis and design of the single-layer super reticulated steel domes with
a large span of 86 m used to cover a tall Buddha statue located in Saraburi, Thailand is presented
in this paper as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Architectural rendering of the dome structure

2. Structural Design Criteria

Gravity load cases were evaluated based on the nonlinear staged construction analysis
including P-Delta effect. Wind loads acting on the dome were obtained from wind tunnel test and
also evaluated based on the Thai Standard for Calculation of Wind Loads and Responses of
Buildings DPT 1311−50 [2] and ASCE 7−10 [3]. Response spectrum for the design basic
earthquake (DBE) level based on Thai seismic calculation standard DPT 1302−52 [4] was
considered in determination of earthquake load. Finally, all load cases were combined as
appropriate load combinations for evaluating the performance of structural components according
to ACI 318−08 [5]. In addition, the structure is presently constructed up to the columns at the base,
while upper parts of the structure have not constructed yet. Thus, for each structural member, if
the demand forces exceeding their capacities, the member already constructed would be retrofitted,
while the member having not constructed yet would be re-designed.

2.1. Geometry of the structure

As shown in Figure 2, the diameter of the circular RC base structure supporting the steel
dome is 65 m., while the diameter at the middle of the steel dome is 86 m. The total height of the
whole structure is 40 m.

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 Figure 2: Overall dimension of the dome

2.2. Staged construction

Staged construction analysis was performed in order to evaluate the performance of the
structure components during construction. The structural components, shoring supports and
construction loads were added and removed following the actual construction sequences to capture
the demand forces under gravity load. The construction stages can be summarized in Table 1 and
Figure 3.

Table 1: The principal activities of construction sequence

Stages Construction Activities

1 Build RC circular base structure including piles, foundations, columns, beams, and slabs

2 Construct the bottom part of the super steel dome supported by using steel frame shoring

3 Install a set of steel cells until completing the first ring of the top part of the super steel dome

4 Repeat the stage 3 until fishing the top part of the super steel dome
5 Remove the steel frame shoring from the bottom part of the super steel dome

6 Install cladding throughout the super steel dome

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 1st Stage 2nd Stage

3rd Stage 3rd Stage (to be continued)

4th Stage 4th Stage (to be continued)

5th Stage 6th Stage

Figure 3: Principal activities of construction sequence

2.3. Wind loads

In this study, wind loads acting on the dome were evaluated based on design guidelines
and wind tunnel test.

2.3.1. Wind load based on design guidelines

In order to carry out the preliminary structural design, the structural performances of the
dome were checked against the wind loads obtained from design guidelines before obtaining the
wind pressure from the wind tunnel test. As shown in Figure 4, the coefficients of external wind
pressure for the top part of the steel dome were calculated based on DPT 1311−50 and ASCE
7−10, while those for the bottom part of the dome were obtained from a research on wind pressure
and buckling of cylindrical steel tank [6].

N. Anwar, P. Norachan, P. Warnitchai, and T. Htut Aung

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 Figure 4: Wind external pressure based on ASCE 7-10

2.3.2. Wind load based on wind tunnel test

To obtain more accurate wind pressure acting on the dome structure, wind study of the
dome was performed by TU-AIT wind tunnel test as shown in Figure 5. A 1:300 scale pressure
model of the dome was made based on the architectural drawings, and the simultaneous pressure
measurement was conducted to determine the wind pressure. The model scale Reynold number of
the wind flow was approximately 1.6×105 and it was greater than the value of 1×105 for buildings
with circular cross-section mentioned in the AWES-QAM-1-2001 [7]. As a result, there was no
effect due to Reynold number. The surrounding area of dome structure was open terrain condition.
Thus, atmospheric boundary layer flow of open terrain condition was simulated in the wind tunnel
by arranging roughness elements and spires through trial and error process. According to the DPT
1311-50, hourly mean wind speed at the reference height of 10 m. is 25 m/s for 50 years return
period (Zone 1). However, in this work, the hourly mean wind speed was scaled up to 1,000 year
return period with the value of 40.67 m/s (146 km/hr.) at the height of 40 m. Simulated mean wind
speed profile and turbulence intensity profile well matched with the wind guideline as shown in
Figure 6.

Figure 5: The 1:300 scaled model in TU-AIT boundary-layer wind tunnel

N. Anwar, P. Norachan, P. Warnitchai, and T. Htut Aung

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 M EAN WIND S P EED T UR BUL E NCE I NT E NS I T Y
200 200
open condition OPEN CONDITION
150 Open-terrain 150 OPEN TERRAIN
Suburban

HEIGHT (M)
HEIGHT (M)

Urban SUBURBAN
100 100 URBAN

50 50

0 0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0 0.2 0.4 0.6
NORMALIZED MEAN WIND SPEED LONGITUDINAL TURBULENCE INTENSITY

Figure 6: Mean wind speed and turbulence intensity

The wind-induced pressures were measured at 79 pressure tap locations on the dome
surface of the scaled model. The average pressure tap density was greater than 1 pressure tap per
200 m2 of building surface mentioned in AWES-QAM-1-2001. This means that the number of
pressure measurement taps which were used were adequate enough to capture the realistic wind
pressure. The scaled model exposed to approaching wind was rotated by direction basis for 36
directions at 10 degree intervals. In this study, due to symmetry of the dome geometry, the
structural analysis was performed under one direction of wind. The time-history pressure at 79
locations were scaled up and assigned to the finite element model in SAP2000 [8] for evaluation
of the dynamic responses. The sample time-history pressures at the different locations on the dome
surface are illustrated in Figure 7.

2000

1500

1000

500
Wind Pressure (N/m2)

Point A
0
Point B
-500
Point C
-1000

-1500

-2000

-2500
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
Time (s)

Figure 7: Pressure at the sampling points

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2.4. Seismic loads

Earthquake load was obtained from the Thai seismic calculation guideline DPT 1302−52.
The response spectra at the design basis earthquake level (DBE) for 475 year return period (10%
of probability of exceedance in 50 years) was used in this evaluation with the importance factor
(I=1.25) and the response modification factor (R=1). The DBE elastic response spectra is
illustrated in Figure 8.

0.12

0.10
Spectral Acceleration, Sa (g)

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Period (s)

Figure 8: Response spectra for DBE earthquake level

Figure 9: Three-dimensional finite element model

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3. Finite Element Modelling

As shown in Figure 9, three-dimensional finite element model was created by using

SAP2000 V14.2.4 as analysis tool. For the RC circular base of the structure as shown in Figure
10(a), the foundation system was modelled by using frame elements, while soil springs which
represent piles were assigned below the foundation to include the behavior of soil structure
interaction during the analysis. The concrete rectangular pile with the cross-section area of 40×40
cm2 and the total length of 18 m was used in the construction. The pile was assumed purely end
bearing. Thus, the vertical spring stiffness obtained from the axial properties of the pile was used
with the approximate value of 204,000 KN/m, while the lateral supports were assumed to be fixed
in both directions. The RC columns and beams were modelled as linearly elastic members using
frame element, while the RC slabs were modelled as linearly elastic shell elements. For the steel
dome as shown in Figure 10(b), the steel circular pipes were modelled by using frame elements,
while the cladding areas were modelled by using shell elements with modification of stiffness in
order to transfer only loads to the surrounding steel pipes without contributing any stiffness.

(a) Reinforcement concrete structure (b) Single-layer reticulated steel dome

Figure 10: Structural components

4. Analysis Procedures

Gravity load case was run based on the nonlinear staged construction analysis including
P−Delta effect. Wind load cases were run for both linear static and linear time-history analyses.
Direct integration approach was employed to find the dynamic responses of the structure for the
linear time-history analysis. After trying different values of time-step size to be sure that the
solution was not too dependent on this parameter, the total time step of 27,201 and the time-step
size of 0.133 second were used to capture the wind loads acting on the structure within 1 hour. The
response spectrum analysis based on DBE level with R equal to 1 was used for earthquake loading
assignment. Finally, all load cases were combined as load combinations including both the critical
loading cases for compression-controlled and for tension-controlled actions.

5. Analysis results

This section discusses the structural performances of the dome under the gravity and lateral
loads. Global responses of the structure are presented as follows:

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 T1= 0.518s T2= 0.517s T3= 0.408 s T4 = 0.337 s

T5 = 0.295 s T6 = 0.295 s T7 = 0.270 s T8 = 0.270 s

Figure 11: First eight vibration modes

5.1. Modal analysis

Modal analysis was performed to determine the vibration modes of the structure under
dynamic forces as well as to understand the behavior of the structure. A combination of mass from

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100% of dead load and superimposed dead load plus 25% of live load was considered in modal
analysis. Forty modes were considered to achieve more than 90% of the total participating mass
in each orthogonal direction. The first two modes are pure translation in horizontal direction,
respectively due to symmetrical configuration of the structure as expected. The third mode is
vertical vibration, while the fourth mode performs in twisting. After the fifth mode, it is found that
the steel dome structure starts to vibrate with the local vibration in various patterns. The modal
participation mass ratios and the modal deformation shapes are shown in Figure 11.

5.2. Base shear

Base shear resulting from different load cases are summarized in Figure 12. Elastic base
shear resulting from wind loads based on the design codes and wind tunnel test as well as that from
response spectrum analysis (RSA) at DBE earthquake level were compared. At the ground level,
the computed elastic base shear from wind tunnel test is approximately 5.7% (1,345/23,613) of the
seismic weight (DL+0.25LL = 23,613 kN) in both X and Y directions. The base shear for both
directions are same due to symmetrical configuration of the structure. It is also found that the
elastic base shear obtained from wind tunnel test is slightly lower than that obtained from wind
design codes and from response spectrum.

2,000
1,577 1,510 1,577 1,510
1,345 1,345
1,500
Base Shear (kN)

Wind (Design Codes)

1,000 Wind (Wind Tunnel)
RS-DBE
500

0
X Y
Along Direction

Figure 12: Comparison of base shear percentage at the ground

5.3. Deformations and displacements

The deformation shapes under wind pressure obtained from wind tunnel test at a time step
are illustrated in Figure 13. As expected, the results shows that the upward deformation are
observed at the top of the dome due to the suction pressure at this region, while pushing pressure
can be observed at the surface that directly resist wind load. In addition, the maximum
displacements obtained from service load combinations in the lateral and vertical directions are
shown in Figure 14. It is found that the maximum lateral displacements is approximate 3.6 cm
which is less than the limit 20 cm (H/200 = 40 × 100/200), while the maximum vertical
displacements at the top of the dome is about 6.1 cm which is within the limit 17.9 cm (L/480 =
86 × 100/480).

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 Figure 13: Deformation of the structure under wind obtained from the wind tunnel test

Figure 14: Maximum displacements under lateral and vertical loads

6. Design Review of Structural Members

According to the strength design approach based on ACI 318−08, the force demands (D)
were obtained from the load combinations including load factors, while the design strength of
structural components (C) were multiplied by strength reduction factors. The demand over
capacity (D/C) ratios of structural components such as the foundations, columns, beams and steel
frames were carried out to evaluate structural performance of members.

6.1. Piles and foundation

Based on the load combinations including both the critical loading cases for compression-
controlled and for tension-controlled actions, the maximum and minimum axial compression
forces over pile capacity (D/C) ratios were 0.67 and 0.12, respectively. It means that there is no
tension occurring in piles. Moreover, the foundation is also safe to resist the demand forces for
both bending moment and shear with the demand over capacity (D/C) ratio of 0.94 and 0.88
respectively.

6.2. Columns and beams

As mentioned in the section of structural design criteria, the RC columns at the base of the
structure were presently competed, while upper parts of the structure have not constructed yet. The
column PMM interaction demands of the original columns exceeded their capacities limit with the

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demand over capacity (D/C) ratio of 1.02 and 1.19, respectively, while the axial and shear forces
are less than their capacities. In order to increase the capacities of columns, the column jacketing
approach was proposed. After revising the original columns, the maximum column PMM D/C
ratio of the jacketing columns were less than 1.0. The other demand over capacity (D/C) ratios of
column were also reduced due to increment of column dimensions and additional reinforcements.
The details of column jacketing is illustrated in Figure 15(a).

After checking the performances of beams based on the previous structural details, it found
that some beams at the roof level of the RC base structure were not able to resist the demand forces.
In order to increase the beam capacities, these beams were revised by increasing the amount of
reinforcement for both longitudinal and transverse reinforcements. Moreover, the ring beam which
is the main structural component supporting the steel dome structure was also revised to increase
its capacities for both flexure and shear. The details of the revised RC ring beam is illustrated in
Figure 15(b).

(a) Details of RC jacketing column (b) Details of revised RC ring beam

Figure 15: Details of Column and Beam

Figure 16: Steel pipe section used for the dome structutre

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6.3. Steel circular pipes

As illustrated in Figure 16, the 267.4 mm (10 inch) steel circular pipes with thickness 4.5
and 6.0 mm were used to be the primary components of the single-layer steel dome structure. The
performances of these steel members, such as PMM interaction, axial tension, axial compression,
moment and shear were evaluated against demand forces. Based on the results, the member PMM
demand over capacity D/C ratio provided the highest value of 0.61 among the other D/C ratios.
Thus, the steel circular pipes with these sections have sufficient capacities to resist the demand
forces.

Figure 17: Steel dome support

Figure 18: Steel circular joint with inner diaphragms

6.4. Steel dome supports and connection

To avoid the stress concentration and excessive moment at the supports between the steel
dome structure and the ring beam under gravity and lateral loads, the pin-connected support was
presented to release the excessive demand forces. The details of the pin-connected support is
shown in Figure 17. At the intersection of the pipes, steel circular joint was proposed in order to
make construction easy and convenient. As shown in Figure 18, the steel circular joint consists of

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 steel ring plate, inner diaphragm and cover plate. For building this joint, the first part using three
steel pipes are connected with the circular steel ring and inner diaphragms by welding, while the
second part is combined by welding the other three steel pipes with steel cover plate. Finally, both
parts are assembled by using bolts.

7. Conclusions

Based on the analysis, the overall performance of the global structure was generally
acceptable under gravity, wind and earthquake loads. The elastic base shear obtained from wind
design codes and from response spectrum analysis was higher than that obtained from wind tunnel
test. The maximum displacements under the gravity and lateral loads were also within the
acceptable limit. In addition, the design review of structural components were also carried out.
Both piles and foundations were safe to resist the demand forces. To increase the capacities of
columns, the column jacketing approach was proposed. All beams seemed to have sufficient
capacities to resist the demand forces after revision. For the steel structure, the steel circular pipes
had sufficient capacities to resist the demand forces. To avoid the stress concentration and
excessive moment at the supports under gravity and lateral loads, the pin-connected support was
presented to release the excessive demand forces at the supports. Moreover, steel circular joint was
proposed at the intersection of the pipes in order to make construction easy and convenient. Finally,
after revising details of the some structural components, the overall performances of the structure
were improved in terms of global structural response as well as local member performances under
gravity and lateral loadings.

8. Acknowledgements

This conference paper was made possible through the help and support from many staff
members of AIT Consulting, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.

9. References

[1] Anuj C., “Analysis and Design of Steel Dome using Software”, International Journal of Research in
Engineering and Technology; Vol. 3, No 3, 2014, pp. 2321-7308.
[2] DPT 1311−50, Thai Standard for Calculation of Wind Loads and Responses of Buildings, Department
of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, 2007.
[3] ASCE 7−10, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, American Society of Civil
Engineers, Reston, VA, 2010.
[4] DPT 1302−52, Thai Standard for Design of Buildings Resisting Earthquakes, Department of Public
Works and Town & Country Planning, 2009.
[5] ACI 318-08, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318−08) and Commentary.
American Concrete Institute: Farmington Hills, MI, 2008.
[6] Portela G., and Godoy L.A., “Wind Pressure and Bucking of Cylindrical Steel Tanks with a Dome
Roof”, Journal of Constructional Steel Research; Vol. 61, 2005, pp. 808-824.
[7] AWES-QAM-1, Quality Assurance Manual for Wind-Engineering Studies of Buildings. Australasian
Wind Engineering Society, 2001.
[8] SAP2000, Version14, Linear and nonlinear static and dynamic analysis and design of three-
dimensional structures. Computers and Structures Inc., Berkeley, CA, 2011.

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