Influence of random geometrical imperfection on loading capacity of scaffold based on stochastic numerical model

The existing data indicate that two-thirds of engineering accidents occur during construction among which engineering accidents caused by scaffold collapse account for a large proportion. Due to the complex mechanical behavior of connection and random nature of scaffold system caused by random geometrical imperfection, the reliability of scaffold system is lower than other kinds of building structures. However, the method considering the random geometrical imperfection is limited. To facilitate the analysis of random geometrical imperfection, the original numerical algorithm is proposed based on ANSYS Parametric Design Language. Through proposed method, two types of geometrical imperfections, i.e., the nodal location error and initial curvature can be automatically considered. The randomness in initial curvature includes random magnitude and random direction. The established numerical model is as close to reality as possible and the process of establishing stochastic numerical model can be automatically finished. The only work that needs to be done is to enter the dimensions of the scaffold. Except the propose of numerical algorithm, the objective of this study is to reveal the influence of geometrical imperfection on random distribution of loading capacity of scaffold system under different load conditions. The influence of random geometrical imperfection on probabilistic distribution of loading capacity is systematically investigated. The results indicated that there may be several buckling modes exist and the buckling mode occurred in actual condition is closely related to the random distribution of geometrical imperfection. The load factor of internal post (point 3) is 8 %–12 % larger than that of corner post. The load factor of side post is 4.7 %–7.2 % larger than that of corner post. The ultimate bending capacity M_u has little influence on the loading capacity of scaffold system when the initial bending stiffness k_o is small enough.