Shell Structure

INTRODUCTION
SHELL
• The word shell is an old one and is commonly used to
describe the hard covering of eggs, tortoises, etc.
• Shell can be defined as curved structures capable of
transmitting loads in more than two directions to
supports.

SHELL IN NATURE
• Eggshell – the most efficient example as lightness
proportion to its strength is amazingly high.
• Bird’s nest is a good example of an inverted dome.
ntroduction

Shell Structure
–Examples include: igloos, egg shells, turtle shell, food
or pop cans, or, even bubbles in foam and cream puffs.
HISTORIC CONCRETE SHELLS
HISTORY
• The oldest known concrete shell, the
Pantheon in Rome, was completed about AD
125, and is still standing.
• It has a massive concrete dome 43m in
diameter, with an oculus at its centre.
• A monolithic structure, it appears to have
been sculpted in place by applying thin layers
on top of each other in decreasing diameter.

MODERN CONCRETE SHELL CONSTRUCTION

• Shell construction began in the 1920s; the
shell emerged as a major long-span concrete
structure in postmodernism.
• Modern thin concrete shells, are made from
thin steel reinforced concrete, and in many
cases lack any ribs or additional reinforcing
structures, relying wholly on the shell
structure itself.
APPLICATION OF SHELL STRUCTURE IN VARIOUS FIELD
• Architecture and Building
- domes and vaults in the Middle Ages
• Power and Chemical Engineering
- steam power during the Industrial Revolution
• Structural Engineering
- development of steel for structural purposes; use of tubular
members
• Vehicle Body Structures
• Composite construction
-introduction of fiberglass and similar lightweight composite materials
Thin-shell structure
– are light weight constructions using shell elements.
– These elements are typically curved and are assembled to large structures.
– Typical applications are fuselages of aero planes, boat hulls and roof
structures in some buildings
 General considerations
• Advantages

1. Freedom of design shapes, both in plan and in section.

2. Easy of providing natural light over large areas.

3. Great capacity to carry unbalanced loads.

4. Fireproof.

5. Great reserve strength. Local damage, even at critical point, will not cause

general collapse.

6. Attraction of elegant simplicity of curved forms that utilize the natural

strength and stiffness of shell form with great economy in the use of material.

7. Continuity and Curvature – the essential ingredients of a shell structure.

 Special problems
• Disadvantages
1. Formwork must be carefully designed. Minimum of four reuses of
forms required for economy.
2. Construction problems unfamiliar to most contractors.
3. Design procedure unfamiliar to many engineers, complicated shapes
involve lengthy calculations. “Design of large thin shell roofs is a
major engineering problem.”
4. Insulation must be provided, preferably above shell and ribs.
5. Surface treatment of exposed concrete must be studied for
architectural effect.
6. More expensive that a part framed structure, cost of labor, the
construction of centering of shells is very high.
• MATERIALS • SHELL
• MOST SUITED: • May be cast in place,
– Concrete • or pre-cast off site and moved
– Reinforcement bars to follow into place and assemble
curvature of shells.
 TYPES & FORMS OF SHELL STRUCTURE

1. FOLDED PLATES
2. BARREL VAULTS
3. SHORT SHELLS
4. FOLDED PLATE DOMES
5. INTERSECTION SHELLS
6. WARPED SURFACES
7. COMBINATIONS OF SHELLS
8. SHELL ARCHES
FOLDED PLATES
 BARREL VAULTS
• the most useful of the shell structures because they can span up to 150 feet with a minimum of
material.
• If the span is large in comparison to the width, the form is called a long shell. The span/radius ratio is
5. If the length is short, it is called short shell. The span/radius ration less than 1 and shell between
these limits are called intermediate shells.
• The thickness of the barrel shell is usually based on the minimum thickness required for covering the
steel for fireproofing + the space required for the three layers of bars + some space for tolerance.
• If these bars are all half inch rounds – minimum of 3 ¼ inches. Near the supports the thickness may be
greater for containing the larger longitudinal bars.
• If more than one barrel is placed side by side, the structure is a multiple barrel structure and if more
than one span, it is called a multiple span shell.
• Provision should be made for expansion joints in a large structure.
 BARREL VAULTS

MULTIPLE BARRELS - OUTSIDE STIFFENERS CORRUGATED CURVES

UNSTIFFENED EDGES THE LAZY S

 BARREL VAULTS

EDGE MEMBERS
BUTTERFLY SHELLS

EDGE SUPPORTED SHELLS

NORTH LIGHT SHELLS VAULTS WITHOUT STIFFENERS

SHORT SHELLS
 SHORT SHELLS

PURE ARCH AND SHELL RIGID FRAMES

MASSIVE ABUTMENTS CANTILEVER ABUTMENTS

 FOLDED PLATE DOMES
•In this category are included all domes made
with plane slabs and plates.

•The advantage of the folded plate dome is

that the surfaces are easier to form because
they are flat.

•The structural design of folded plate domes

follows that of folded plate barrels. 4-B. FOLDED PLATE DOME –
TAPERED ELEMENTS

4-A. FOLDED PLATE DOME –

SQUARE IN PLAN
5. MULTI-FACET DOME
INTERSECTION SHELLS
 INTERSECTION SHELLS

GROINED VAULT - INTERSECTION SHELL -

INTERSECTION SHELL - SQUARE IN CROSS FORM
SQUARE IN PLAN
PLAN SHALLOW INTERSECTION

GROINED VAULT - INTERSECTION

INTERSECTION - POLYGONAL SHELL - FOLDED
POLYGONAL PLAN
PLAN, SHALLOW INTERSECTION PLATE
 WARPED SURFACES

• Warped surfaces have a

great advantage for shell
structures because they
may be formed from
straight form boards even CONOID
though they are surfaces of
double curvature.
• This type of shell structure
can be built to what
appears to be the ultimate
in lightness of construction,
minimum reinforcing and
HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOIDAL SURFACE
ease of moving forms.
 WARPED SURFACES

HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID – HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOIDAL

GABLED EDGE MEMBERS SADDLE DOME

UMBRELLA SHELLS STEEP HYPERBOLIC PARABOLID

TRUMPET SHELL THE GROINED VAULT

CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS
MEDAL
BY: Felix Candela
 COMBINATIONS OF SHELLS

DOME AND BARREL VAULT FOLDED PLATE AND CONE

FOLDED PLATE AND BARREL VAULT BARREL SHELL - DOMED ENDS

EXAMPLES
JFK AIRPORT
THIN SHELLS
Aichtal Outdoor Theater

Structural Type:
Thin shell
Function / usage:
Open-air stage
Completed in:
1977
Status:
in use
Geographic Information & Related
Structures
Location:
Aichtal, Esslingen (Kreis),
Baden-Württemberg, Germany, Europe

Technical Information
Dimensions
number of supports 5
Materials
shell
reinforced concrete
ANWB Headquarters

General Information
Structural Type:
Thin shell
Function / usage:
Office building
Completed in:
1960
Status:
in use
Geographic Information & Related
Structures
Location:
The Hague, South Holland,
Netherlands, Europe
Auditorium of South
Mountain High School
General Information
Structural Type:
Thin shell
Function / usage:
Lecture hall
Completed in:
1972
Status:
in use
Geographic Information & Related Structures
Location:
Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA,
North America

Technical Information
Dimensions
diameter
48.77 m
rise
5.49 m
Materials
thin shell
reinforced concrete

Notes
The dome was built on an earth mound and
pumped into place.
Aussegnungshalle
General Information
Structural Type:
Thin shell
Function / usage:
Church
Completed in:
1999
Status:
in use
Geographic Information & Related Structures
Location:
Gräfelfing, München (Kreis), Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Technical Information
current tab:Dimensions
Materials
Dimensions
Width 12.425 m
Height 9.29 m
Materials
Cables steel
inner shell wood
outer shell steel
supports (north) steel
supports (South) precast reinforced concrete
Hyperbolic shells

Möglingen Water Tower

General Information
Structural Type:
Hyperbolic shell
Function / usage:
Water tower
Completed in:
1965
Status:
in use
Geographic Information & Related Structures
Location:
Möglingen, Ludwigsburg (Kreis), Baden-Württemberg,
Germany,Europe

Technical Information
Dimensions
Height 30 m
diameter at base 9.60 m
minimum diameter 7 m
contained water volume 400 m3
maximum diameter 15.50 m
Materials
Tower reinforced concrete
Xochimilco Restaurant

General Information
Structural Type:
Hyperbolic shell
Function / usage:
Restaurant
Built:
1957 - 1958
Status:
in use
Geographic Information & Related Structures
Location:
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico,
North America

Technical Information
Materials
shell
reinforced concrete

Dimensions
diameter
42.7 m
Cathedral of Saint Mary of
the Assumption

General Information
Structural Type:
Hyperbolic-paraboloid shell
Function / usage:
Cathedral
Completed in:
1971
Status:
in use
Geographic Information & Related Structures
Location:
San Francisco, San Francisco County, California
, USA, North America
Address: 1111 Gough Street

Technical Information
Materials
building structure reinforced concrete
Shell reinforced concrete

Dimensions
Height 60 m
Seats 2 500
 Church of the Holy Spirit

General Information
Structural Type:
Hyperbolic-paraboloid shell
Function / usage:
Church
Completed in:
1967
Status:
in use
Geographic Information & Related
Structures
Location:
Lommiswil, Solothurn, Switzerland, Europe

Technical Information
Materials
thin shell reinforced concrete

Dimensions
Span 26 m
Fedala Reservoir

General Information
Structural Type:
Hyperbolic-paraboloid shell
Function / usage:
Water tower
Completed in:
1957
Geographic Information & Related
Structures
Location:
Mohammedia, Greater Casablanca,
Morocco, Africa
Technical Information
Dimensions
Diameter max. 40 m
reservoir capacity 3 500 m3
shell thickness 10 - 28 cm
KLIA Main Building

General Information
Structural Type:
Hyperbolic-paraboloid shell
Function / usage:
Airport terminal building
Completed in:
1998
Status:
in use

Geographic Information & Related

Structures
Location:
Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia, Asia
Olanesti Well Station

General Information
Structural Type:
Hyperbolic-paraboloid shell
Function / usage:
Shelter / rain protection
Completed in:
1960

Geographic Information & Related

Structures
Location:
Olanesti, Vâlcea, Romania, Europe

Technical Information
Materials
Shell reinforced concrete
Predeal Railway Station

General Information
Structural Type:
Hyperbolic-paraboloid shell
Function / usage:
Railroad (railway) station
Completed in:
1964

Geographic Information & Related

Structures
Location:
Predeal, Braşov, Romania, Europe

Technical Information
Materials
Shell prestressed concrete

Dimensions
Width 34.00 m
Length 38.00 m
Terms
• SHELL STRUCTURE
– Structures, which keep their shape and support
loads, even without a frame, or solid mass material
inside, are called shell structures.
– These structures use a thin, carefully shaped, outer
layer of material, to provide their strength and
rigidity.
– The shape of a shell structure spreads forces
throughout the whole structure, which means
every part of the structure supports only a small
part of the load, giving it its strength.
• SHELL
– A thin, curved plate structure, shaped to transmit
applied forces by compressive, tensile, and shear
stresses acting in the plane of the structure.
• Membrane Stresses
– The compressive, tensile, and shear stresses acting
in the plane of the surface of a shell structure.
– A shell can sustain relatively large forces if
uniformly applied. Because of its thinness, however,
a shell has little bending resistance and is
unsuitable for concentrated load.
• THIN SHELL
– A shell structure constructed of reinforced
concrete.
Terms
• BARREL SHELL
– A rigid cylindrical shell structure.
– If the length of a barrel shell is tree or more
times its transverse span, it behaves as a
deep beam with a curved section spanning
in the longitudinal direction. Edges are
stiffened with beams or adjoining shells.
– If it is relatively short, it exhibits archlike
action. Tie rods, transverse rigid frames, or
the like are required to counteract the
outward thrusts of the arching action.
• TRANSLATIONAL SURFACE/SHELL
– A surface generated by sliding a plane
curve along a straight line or over another
plane curve
– It is a type of shell obtained by moving a
vertical curve parallel to itself along
another vertical in a plane at right angles
to the plane of a sliding curve
Terms
• CYLINDRICAL SURFACE
– A surface generated by sliding a straight line
along a plane curve, or vice versa.
– Depending on the curve, a cylindrical surface
may be circular, elliptic, or parabolic. Because of
its straight line geometry, a cylindrical surface
can be regarded as being either a translational
or a ruled surface.
• ELLIPTICAL PARABOLOID
– A surface generated by sliding a vertical
parabola with downward curvature along a
perpendicular parabola with downward
curvature.
– Its horizontal sections are ellipses while its
vertical sections are parabolas.
• HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID
– A surface generated by sliding a parabola with
downward curvature along a parabola with
upward curvature, or by sliding a straight line
segment with its ends on two skew lines.
– It can be consider to be both a translational and
a ruled surface.
– Also called HYPAR
Terms
• PARABOLOID
– A surface all of whose intersections by planes
are either parabolas and ellipses or parabolas
and hyperbolas.
• SADDLE SURFACE
– A surface having an upward curvature in one
direction and a downward curvature in a
perpendicular direction.
– In saddle-surface shell structure, regions of
downward curvature exhibit archlike action,
while regions of upward curvature behave like
a cable structure.
– If the edges of the surface are not supported,
beam behavior may also be present.
• ARTICLASTIC
– Having opposite curvatures at a given point.
• RULED SURFACE
– A surface generated by the motion of a
straight line. Because of its straight line
geometry, a ruled surface is generally easier
to form and construct than a rotational or
translational surface.
Terms
• CONOID
– A ruled surface generated by sliding a straight line
with one end on a straight line segment and the
other on a plane curve. Depending on the curve,
conoid may be circular, elliptic, or parabolic.
• HYPERBOLOID
– A surface having a finite center with certain plane
sections that are hyperbolas and others that are
circles or ellipses.
• ONE-SHEET HYPERBOLOID
– A ruled surface generated by sliding an inclined
line segment on two horizontal circles. Its vertical
section are hyperbolas.
• ROTATIONAL SURFACE
– A surface generated by rotating a plane curve
about an axis.
• SYNCLASTIC
– Having similar curvatures at a given point
• SPHERICAL SURFACE
– A rotational surface generated by the revolution
of a circular arc about a vertical axis.
Terms
• ELLIPTICAL SURFACE
– A rotational surface generated
by the revolution of a half
ellipse about a vertical axis.
• PARABOLIC SURFACE
– A rotational surface generated
by the revolution of a
parabola about a vertical axis
• TORUS
– A doughnut-shaped surface
generated by the revolution of
a circle about an exterior line
lying in its plane.