Structure System-II

Shell Structures
Submitted to Ar. Konica Sharma
Shell
Shell structures are also called plate structures. They are lightweight constructions using
shell elements. These elements, typically curved, are assembled to make large structures.
Typical applications include aircraft fuselages, boat hulls, and the roofs of large buildings.
A thin shell is defined as a shell with a thickness which is small compared to its other
dimensions and in which deformations are not large compared to thickness. A primary
difference between a shell structure and a plate structure is that, in the unstressed state,
the shell structure has curvature as opposed to the plates structure which is flat.
Membrane action in a shell is primarily caused by in-plane forces (plane stress), but there
may be secondary forces resulting from flexural deformations. Where a flat plate acts
similar to a beam with bending and shear stresses, shells are analogous to a cable which
resists loads through tensile stresses. The ideal thin shell must be capable of developing
both tension and compression.

NATURAL SHELLS
The term “shell” is used to describe the structures which possess strenght and rigidity
due to its thin, natural and curved form such as shell of egg, a nut, human skull, and
shell of tortise.

TYPES
The most popular types of thin-shell structures are:
> Concrete shell structures, often cast as a monolithic dome or stressed ribbon
bridge or saddle roof. The thin concrete shell structures are a lightweight construction
composed of a relatively thin shell made of reinforced concrete, usually without the use of
internal supports giving an open unobstructed interior. The shells are most commonly
domes and flat plates, but may also take the form of ellipsoids or cylindrical sections, or
some combination thereof. Most concrete shell structures are commercial and sports
buildings or storage facilities.

There are two important factors in the development of the thin concrete shell structures:

* The first factor is the shape which was was developed along the history of these
constructions. Some shapes were resistant and can be erected easily. However, the
designer’s incessant desire for more ambitious structures did not stop and new shapes
were designed.
* The second factor to be considered in the thin concrete shell structures is
the thickness, which is usually less than 10 centimeters. For example, the thickness of the

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Hayden planetarium was 7.6 centimeters.
Advantages of Concrete Shells
* The curved shapes often used for concrete shells are naturally strong structures.
* Shell allowing wide areas to be spanned without the use of internal supports, giving an
open, unobstructed interior.
* The use of concrete as a building material reduces both materials cost and the
construction cost.
* As concrete is relatively inexpensive and easily cast into compound curves.

Disadvantages of Concrete Shells

* Since concrete is porous material, concrete domes often have issues with sealing. If not
treated, rainwater can seep through the roof and leak into the interior of the building. On
the other hand, the seamless construction of concrete domes prevents air from escaping,
and can lead to buildup of condensation on the inside of the shell. Shingling or sealants are
common solutions to the problem of exterior moisture, and ventilation can address
condensation.

> Lattice shell structures, also called grid shell structures, often in the form of a
geodesic dome or a hyperboloid structures.
> Membrane structures, which include fabric structures and other tensile
structures, cable domes, and pneumatic structures.

MOST SUITABLE MATERIAL

The material most suited for construction of shell structure is concrete because it
is a highly plastic material when first mixed with water that can take up any shape on
centering or inside formwork. small sections of reinforcing bars can readily be bent to
follow the curvature of shells. Once the cement has set and the concerete has hardened
the r.c.c membrane or slab acts as a strong, rigid shell which serves as both structure
and covering to the building.

CENTERING OF SHELLS
Centering is the term used to describe the necessary temporary support on which the
curved r.c.c shell structure is cast. The centering of a barrel vault, which is part of a
cylinder with same curvature along its length; is less complex. The centering of conoid,
dome and hyperboloid of revolution is more complex due to additional labour and
wasteful cutting of materials to form support for shapes that are not of uniform linear
curvature. the attraction of shell structures lies in the elegant simplicity of curved shell
forms that utilise the natural atrength and stiffness of shell forms with great economy
in the use of materials. the disadvantage of shell structure is their cost. The shell structure
is more expensive due to considerable labour required to construct the centering
on which the shell is cast.

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TYPES OF THIN CONCRETE SHELLS
Barrels shells
The cylindrical thin shells, also called barrels, should not be
confused with the vaults even with the huge similarity in
the shape of both structures, because each of these
structures has a different structural behavior as well as
Barrel Vault
different requirements in the minimum thickness and
the shape.
Barrel : Arch action & beam action together make a barrel. there are mainly two types of
Barrel :
- long barrels , arch action is prominent
- short barrels, beam action is prominent

On one hand, the structural behavior of the vault is based on

connected parallel arches, which transmit the same effort to the
supports. Therefore, the materials used in these structures have to
be able to resists compressions (e.g. stone) and the thickness is
usually higher. Furthermore, the shape of the vaults must be as
similar as possible to the arch in order to achieve the optimum
structural behavior.

On the other hand, the structural behavior of the barrels shell is that
it carries load longitudinally as a beam and transversally as an arch.
and therefore, the materials have to resist both compression
and tension stresses. This factor takes advantage of the bars
of the reinforced concrete, because these elements can be
placed where tension forces are needed and therefore,
the span to thickness Ratios can be increased. Furthermore,
the shape has fewer requirements than the vaults and therefore, new curves like the
ellipse or the parabola can be used improving the aesthetic quality of the structure.

Hyperbolic Paraboloid (Hypar)

A Hypar is a surface curved in two directions that
can be designed as a shell or warped lattice.
A hypar is triangular, rectangular or rhomboidal
in plan, with corners raised to the elevation desired
for use and/or appearance. The edges of Hypars
are typically restrained by stiff hollow
beams that collect & transfer roof loads

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to the foundations.
Folded plate
A thin-walled building structure of the shell type.

Advantages of Folded Plate Roofs over Shell Roofs are:

* Movable form work can be employed.
* Form work required is relatively simpler.
* Design involves simpler calculations.

Disadvantages of Folded Plate Roofs over Shell Roofs are:

* Folded plate consumes more material than shells.
* Form work may be removed after 7 days whereas in
case of shells it can be little earlier.

Dome
A rounded roof, with a circular base, shaped like an arch
in all directions. First used in much of the Middle East and
North Africa whence it spread to other parts of the Islamic
world, because of its distinctive form the dome has, like the
minaret, become a symbol of Islamic architecture.
Dome has double curvature and the resulting structure is
much stiffer and stronger than a single curved surface, such
as a barrel shell.

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Various Double Curvature
These are either part of a sphere, or a hyperboloid of
revolution.

• The terms single curvature and double curvature do not provide a precise gemoetric
distinction between the form of shell because a barrel vault is single curvature but so is
a dome.

• The terms single and doulbe curvature are used to distinguish the comparitive rigidity
of the two forms and complexity of centring necessary to construct the shell form.

Barrel Vault Conoid Hyperboloid

Paraboloid

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Bosjes Chapel

Architects: Steyn Studio

Area: 430 m²
Year: 2016

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Thank You
Submitted by Mohit Bansal (190040031)
Harshul Verma (190040026)
Jaspreet Kaur (190040004)
Astha (19004001)