Due　to　low　redundancy　of　cable　dome　structure,　the　failure　of　key　components　may　lead　to　progressive　collapse　of　structures.　In　order　to　understand　the　progressive　collapse　resistance　of　the　cable　dome　structure　and　find　out　the　key　components　of　the　structure　system,　an　experimental　study　on　the　collapse　resistance　of　Geiger　type　cable　dome　structure　model　with　a　span　of　6　m　was　carried　out　based　on　alternate　path　method.　The　test　results　show　that　the　internal　forces　of　most　other　members,　except　individual　members,　decrease　after　the　rupture　of　a　member,　the　joints　that　produce　the　maximum　vertical　displacement　vary　with　the　location　of　broken　members　and　the　maximum　vertical　displacement　caused　by　the　rupture　of　a　member　is　1/14　of　the　span.　The　key　components　of　the　cable　dome　structure　are　the　ring　cable　and　the　outer　diagonal　cable.　The　test　results　also　show　that　the　influence　of　failure　location　of　the　component　on　collapse　resistance　of　the　structure　increases　from　inner　to　outer　for　members　of　the　same　type.　Ensuring　that　the　outer　ring　cable　does　not　fail　is　the　key　to　the　collapse　resistance　of　the　cable　dome　structure.　©　2021,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Building　Structures.　All　right　reserved.