Mechanical Behavior and Parametric Analysis of Socket-Type Disc-Lock Full-Hall Scaffold System for Long-Span Transfer Beams in Metro Depot Over-Track Development

Taking the over-track development project of a metro depot in Chongqing as the engineering background, this study investigates the socket-type disc-lock full-hall scaffold system beneath the long-span transfer beam of Tower 9. A finite element model was established using MIDAS Civil to analyze the stress distribution and deformation characteristics of the scaffold system under construction loads, and the model was validated through field monitoring. On this basis, a parametric analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of erection height, step spacing of vertical standards, spacing between vertical standards, sweeping rod height, and joint stiffness on the overall stability of the scaffold system. A fitted analytical model for the buckling eigenvalue was further established. The results show that the scaffold system was mainly subjected to compression during construction. The measured maximum compressive stress of the vertical standards was 90.92 MPa, with an error of 12.50% compared with the finite element result of 80.82 MPa. The measured maximum tensile stress was 22.37 MPa, which was close to the calculated value of 21.96 MPa. The measured maximum average cumulative vertical displacement of the scaffold was 1.69 mm, which did not exceed the allowable deformation range during construction. The parametric analysis indicates that increases in erection height, step spacing of vertical standards, spacing between vertical standards, and sweeping rod height reduce the overall stability of the scaffold system, among which the step spacing of vertical standards has the most significant influence. In contrast, increasing joint stiffness is beneficial for enhancing the stability reserve. In this study, the overall stability of the scaffold system is characterized by the buckling eigenvalue obtained from linear eigenvalue buckling analysis. These findings can provide a reference for parameter selection, scheme comparison, and construction control of similar disc-lock high-formwork support systems for heavily loaded transfer beams. However, the conclusions of this study are mainly based on linear eigenvalue buckling analysis and single-factor parametric investigation, without further consideration of material nonlinearity and multi-parameter interaction effects.