Ascertaining　the　mechanical　behaviors　of　large-scale　space　structures　(e.g.　spoke-wheel　cable　structure)　is　essential　for　guaranteeing　their　structural　safety.　This　study　proposed　a　digital-twin　(DT)-based　method　for　analyzing　the　mechanical　behaviors　of　spoke-wheel　cable　structures.　A　spoke-wheel　cable　structure　with　a　span　of　6　m　was　used　as　a　case　study　to　validate　the　proposed　method.　The　structural　behaviors,　such　as　cable　forces　and　structural　displacements　under　five　loading　conditions　(i.e.　dead　load　and　dead　load　plus　3/10,　5/10,　8/10　or　full-areal　live　load),　were　investigated　experimentally　and　numerically.　A　comparative　analysis　was　conducted　to　compare　the　results　using　the　proposed　method　with　the　traditional　method.　Results　show　that　the　proposed　DT　method　could　help　to　update　geometric　details　and　boundary　conditions　of　the　twin　model　for　ensuring　effective　numerical　analysis.　Moreover,　the　changing　trends　of　general　force　for　the　same　type　of　cables　were　basically　the　same　under　different　loading　conditions.　Besides,　the　forces　of　upper　spoke　cables　and　inner-ring　decreased　under　the　action　of　live　load,　whereas　the　forces　of　lower　spoke　cables　and　inner-ring　increased.　The　displacement　directions　of　loaded　and　unloaded　nodes　were　downward　and　upward,　respectively,　when　subjected　to　uneven　live　loads.　In　addition,　the　vertical　displacements　of　the　outer　nodes　were　greater　than　thoseof　the　inner　ones.　Furthermore,　the　cable　forces　and　displacements　of　the　structure　changed　more　obviously　under　the　action　of　asymmetric　load.　The　established　high-fidelity　DT　model　could　support　effective　numerical　analysis　of　mechanical　behaviors　of　large-scale　space　structures.　©　2024　Institution　of　Structural　Engineers