Dynamic Testing of a Long-Span Suspension Cable Net

This paper presents a study of dynamic testing conducted on a long-span suspension cable net, which serves as the supporting structure for a lightweight roof. The original suspended cable net was replaced with this new structure, and the shape and stress state of the cable net depend on various factors, such as the geometry of circumferential supports, cable lengths, and cable prestress. The structural behaviour is significantly influenced by system nonlinearity, prestress, mass, service loading, flexibility of the circumferential supports, creep effects of cable elements, structural and geometrical symmetry, stiffness of upper non-structural layers, and temperature, which have been considered in the structural design of the new roof. Obtaining the modal parameters of the roof will be important for validating the real structure with a numerical model created for structural design purposes, both immediately after the final construction and during its lifecycle. The identified modal parameters estimated through in-situ dynamic testing are discussed. The dynamic tests were conducted immediately after the final construction stage of the cable net to estimate the roof modal parameters, serving as a reference for further analysis during the lifecycle of the roof. The paper focuses on discussing the estimated modal parameters, including the natural frequencies and natural modes. Finally, the continuous dynamic monitoring of the cable net is presented, enabling the analysis of the dynamic behaviour throughout its entire lifecycle.