Designing Hierarchical IsoTruss Column Based on Controlling Multi-Buckling Behaviors

To develop large-span but ultralight lattice truss columns, a hierarchical IsoTruss column (HITC) was proposed. The multi-buckling behavior of the axially compressed HITC was analyzed by the finite element method (FEM) using a parametric approach in the framework of ANSYS parametric design language (APDL). It was demonstrated that the program enables efficient generation of the finite element (FE) model, while facilitating the parametric design of the HITC. Using this program, the effects of helical angles and brace angles on the buckling behavior of the HITC were investigated. Depending on the helical angles and brace angles, the HITCs mainly have three buckling modes: the global buckling, the first-order local buckling and the second-order local buckling. Theoretical multi-buckling models were established to predict the critical buckling loads. Buckling failure maps based on the theoretical analyses were also developed, which can be useful in preliminary design of such structures.