012 Shell Roofs XXX

University
of Baghdad / College of Engineering Building Construction II
Architectural Department Third Stage 2018‐2019
Lecturer: Anas Hameed Majeed Lecture: no: 11

11.5.3 Shell Roofs
 The term ‘shell’ is usually applied to three‐dimensional structures constructed with a
curved solid slab or membrane acting as a stressed skin which is used to transfer loading
to the points of support.

 They may be considered as single
curvature shells, based on the cylindrical
or parabolic form, and double curvature
shells, based on spherical and other
more complicated forms.

 The main characteristic of a shell
construction is the very thin curved
membrane.

 Many examples of the shell form are to
be seen in nature. For example, the
bamboo rod, the crab shell and the
bird’s egg, all of which are exceedingly
light but strong.

 Long span concrete barrel vaults may be as thin as 57 to 63 mm thick for spans up to
over 30 m.

 Short span concrete barrel vaults will be somewhat thicker than this and domes of 45 to
50 m span may be as thin as 90 mm.

 Thicknesses as small as 38 mm are
possible over spans of 30 m with
some double curvature forms such
as hyperbolic paraboloids

 In order therefore to make full use
of the structural properties of the
remaining parts of the curved
membrane, it is necessary to
strengthen the edges by means of
ribs or edge members which are
called edge beams, or in the case of
a dome, a ring beam.

University of Baghdad / College of Engineering Building Construction II

11.5.3.1 Single curvature shells
 These are barrel vaults which have two forms: long‐span barrels and short‐span barrels.

11.5.3.1.1 Long‐span barrel vaults
 These act as a ‘beam’, the span of which is the length of the vault.

 The shell constitutes the compression member and the edge beams the tension
members or flanges.

 The width of the barrel should be

one‐half to one‐fifth of the span
and the rise from the underside of
the edge beams to the crown of the
vault about one‐tenth of the span
for single span, and one‐fifteenth
for continuous span vaults.

 The width of a long‐span barrel is usually not more than 12 m with a maximum
practicable width of 15 m.

 The maximum economic span is about 30 to 45 m.


 For small spans a radius of about 6 to 7.5 m is used, for spans from 15 to 30 m a radius
of 9 m, and for spans over 30 m a radius of 12 m.

 Lighting openings may be formed in the crown of a shell vault

11.5.3.1.2 Short‐span barrel vaults
 These are used when the clear span is beyond the practicable and economic limits of a
long‐span barrel indicated above.
 End frames in the form of arch ribs are usually spaced 9 to 12 m apart, sometimes up to
18 m.
 The depth of the edge beams should be about one‐fifteenth of the span.

 The total rise should not be less than one‐tenth of the span or the width, whichever is
the greater.

11.5.3.1.3 North light and cantilever barrel vaults
 These include asymmetrical forms such as north lights and cantilever shells.

 The total vertical rise is one‐eighth of the span and the rise of the arc should be at least
one‐twenty‐fifth of the span.

 Edge beams will one‐eighteenth of the span in depth, but this may vary according to
conditions.

 When two shells meet at a considerable angle, as at the middle of a double‐cantilever
shell, the edge beam may be omitted as indicated above, since the fold in the shell
constitutes a beam.

 The upper edge beam of a north light shell is usually very small as it is supported by
struts at 1.80 to 2.75 m centers in the plane of the north light glazing.


 Cylindrical vaults may intersect to form cross vaults. This permits glazed lights to be
formed between the stiffening frames.
 Barrel vaults may also be constructed as parabolic or elliptical shaped shells springing
direct from the foundations and stiffened with ribs at intervals.
 Alternatively, in concrete a corrugated shell can be used in which the stiffening effect of
the ribs is provided by corrugations in the surface of the shell which, when repeated,
forms a continuous corrugated surface.


11.5.3.2 Double curvature shells
 Double curvature adds to the stiffness of a stressed membrane. Geometrical surfaces
with double curvature are divided into two main groups:
(A) The curvature is in the same direction in sections cut at right‐angles, either both
concave or both convex, as in a sphere.
(B) The curvature is opposite in sections cut at right‐angles, as in hyperbolic paraboloids
and hyperboloids, as in a saddle.

 The shell may be considered as a series
of arches and suspension cables
intersecting each other at right‐angles;

11.5.3.3 Shell domes
 The simplest form is the spherical dome which
has been constructed in concrete over spans of
45 m or more.

 The shape may vary according to the plan

shape. All cut edges must be stiffened with
edge beams.

 To avoid horizontal thrust in circular shell

domes it is necessary to elliptical cross section
with a rise of about one‐sixth of the span,
otherwise a ring beam must be provided at the
base of the dome.


 In the case of domes square or triangular
shaped on plan, the edge beams must be
designed to take up this thrust and transfer
it to the bearings.

 The finest example of this is probably the

Market Hall at Leipzig, covered by three
octagonal domes each 75.50 m span, with
a shell thickness of 90 mm

 Each dome is formed by the intersection of four cylindrical shells, the ridges at the
intersections replacing the rigid frames in a normal barrel vault.



11.5.4 Folded slab roofs
 This form of construction is called folded plate.

 It is another form of stressed skin (membrane structure) in which the stiffness of the skin
is used to distribute the loading to the points of support.


 If a flat slab is folded or bent, it can
behave as a beam spanning in the
direction of the fold with a depth
equal to the rise of the folded slab.

 End frames (diaphragms) must be
provided to collect the forces in the
slabs and transfer them to the
supports.

 The shape of the roof may vary from
a simple pitched roof of two slabs to
a multi‐fold or prismatic form.

 As a guide this should not be less than between one‐tenth and one‐fifteenth of the span,
or one‐tenth of the width, whichever is greater.


11.5.4.1 Diaphragm beams
 A solid diaphragm beam, a lattice truss or a rigid frame may be used, to which the ends
of the slabs are rigidly secured.
 When vertical supports down to the ground, columns may be placed under each fold
carrying a diaphragm beam.

 Diaphragms may be placed above or below the slabs as required.

 A solid diaphragm beam, a lattice truss or a rigid frame may be used, to which the ends
of the slabs are rigidly secured.

11.5.4.2 Use of counter folds
 This form of construction can be used to extend down to the ground in arch or rigid
frame form.


 A great variety of forms can be obtained by introduction of reverse or counter‐folds at
various points.
 Dome and vault forms can also be constructed.
 Circular shapes can be covered with folded slabs developed to form a horizontal roof
structure.


11.5.5 Sheet steel arches
 Curved profiled sheeting can be used structurally in roof construction as arches with a
high strength to weight ratio.
 Using profiles with a depth of 60 mm a single skin arch can span up to 13 m and a
double skin with insulation between up to 22 m, with a minimum rise from springing of
one‐tenth of the span.

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 The width of the barrel should be

 The shape may vary according to the plan

 To avoid horizontal thrust in circular shell

 The finest example of this is probably the

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