To solve the problem of critical buckling in the structural analysis and design of the new long-span hollow core roof architecture proposed in this paper (referred to as a “honeycomb panel structural system” (HSSS)), lateral compression tests and finite element analyses were employed in this study to examine the lateral compressive buckling performance of this new type of honeycomb panel with different length-to-thickness ratios. The results led to two main conclusions: (1) Under the experimental conditions that were used, honeycomb panels with the same planar dimensions but different thicknesses had the same compressive stiffness immediately before buckling, while the lateral compressive buckling load-bearing capacity initially increased rapidly with an increasing honeycomb core thickness and then approached the same limiting value; (2) The compressive stiffnesses of test pieces with the same thickness but different lengths were different, while the maximum lateral compressive buckling loads were very similar. Overall instability failure is prone to occur in long and flexible honeycomb panels. In addition, the errors between the lateral compressive buckling loads from the experiment and the finite element simulations are within 6%, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the nonlinear finite element analysis and provides a theoretical basis for future analysis and design for this new type of spatial structure.

This study investigates the shear capacity of aluminum alloy honeycomb sandwich plates connected by high-strength, ordinary, or self-tapping bolts. For that purpose, experimental tests and finite elements are carried out. The failure of a high-strength bolt connector is driven by bending deformations developed in the bolt that deform connection plate and pad openings. In the case of ordinary bolt connectors, stress concentration on the bolt shear surface causes a large shear deformation that finally leads to failure. In the case of self-tapping bolt connectors, the insufficient mechanical bite force of the screw thread yields the bolt misalignment and concentrates shear deformation. As a result, the high-strength bolt connector is the most efficient design solution. If the bolt hole edge distance is more than 1.5 times as much as the bolt diameter, the connection performance becomes insensitive to this parameter. The practical formula for evaluating the connector shear capacity is derived from experimental data.

This article proposes a new type of single-layer combined lattice shell (NSCLS); which is based on aluminum alloy honeycomb panels. Six models with initial geometric defect were designed and precision made using numerical control equipment. The stability of these models was tested. The results showed that the stable bearing capacity of NSCLS was approximately 16% higher than that of a lattice shell with the same span without a reinforcing plate. At the same time; the properties of the NSCLS were sensitive to defects. When defects were present; its stable bearing capacity was decreased by 12.3% when compared with the defect-free model. The model with random defects following a truncated Gaussian distribution could be used to simulate the distribution of defects in the NSCLS. The average difference between the results of the nonlinear analysis and the experimental results was 5.7%. By calculating and analyzing nearly 20,000 NSCLS; the suggested values of initial geometric defect were presented. The results of this paper could provide a theoretical basis for making and revising the design codes for this new combined lattice shell structure.