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The Structural Engineer, Volume 88, Issue 10, 2010
This paper reports on the design of the Theme Pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo 2010. The Pavilion has plan dimensions of 218m x 288m and its western exhibition hall, with a column-free space covering 126m x 180m, will be one of the largest halls in China. As no expansion joints were allowed, the main structural problem was coping with thermal effects. Horizontal seismic resistance was also a key issue. For the final design, a126m-span truss string structure was used (a truss with an underlying pretensioned cable) and the supporting frame below was stabilised via a mixture of conventional braced bays combined with energy dissipating systems. The paper discusses some special issues, including cable pretension force selection, joints for the cable-strut system, roof support, frame bracing and control of global temperature actions. Suggestions about these issues are put forward for optimising the roof and frame structural behaviour whilst making the construction stage easier and reducing costs. Professor Jiemin Ding Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tongji University, Shanghai, China Dr Honglei Wu Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tongji University , Shanghai, China Zhijun He Engineer, Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tongji University, Shanghai, China Yuerong Wan Engineer, Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tongji University, Shanghai, China