Research on the Stability of Heavy-Duty Socket-Type Disc-Buckle Scaffolding Under Random Bending Stiffness

Scaffolds are widely used in construction projects. However， geometric defects caused by repeated use of connection joints can lead to reduced stability and frequent accidents. To address this， this study establishes a refined random finite element model of the scaffold using the random defect method via ANSYS software. This approach enables a realistic investigation into how defects in each connection node affect the overall stability of the scaffold. The research further focuses on the more commonly used socket-type disc-buckle scaffolds with scissor braces. The influence of the number of spans， planar layout， and joint density on the stability provided by the scissor braces is revealed. The results indicate that horizontal scissor braces have a negligible effect on scaffold stability. When the joint bending stiffness is high， the bearing capacity of each joint is the primary factor supporting the structure. As the joint bending stiffness decreases， the combined action of the scissor braces and wall ties becomes the main factor influencing frame stability. For brace layouts of 2×2 or 2×4， joint density has a more pronounced effect on the stability of scaffolds equipped with top wall ties. When the joint bending stiffness is fixed， the number of transverse and longitudinal spans， as well as the joint density， should be maximized to achieve the greatest improvement in scaffold stability.