DOME STRUCTURES

A dome is a thin shell generated by the revolution of a regular curve about one of its
axis. A dome consist of series of horizontal rings whose diameter increases in
downward direction. Crown is the topmost part of the dome. The circle of each ring
of a dome is called a latitude. The circle drawn through two diametrically opposite
points on a horizontal diameter and the crown is known as meridian circle.

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Different stresses acting domes

1. Meridional thrust (T) along the meridian. When load is applied to the dome,
it is resisted their horizontal rings. Their will thus be a thrust of one ring on the
other. The thrust is known as the meridian thrust. It is maximum at support
and radian bars are provided for it.
2. Hoop stress (H) along the latitude. Let T be the thrust per unit run on the
ring. The horizontal component of this thrust will be produce a hoop tension
and is maximum at the crown. Circular hoops are provided for it.

Types of domes

i. Spherical/spheroid domes: is generated when a circular curve revolves

about its vertical diameter.
ii. Conical domes: is generated when a right angle triangle revolves about
its axis.
iii. Elliptical dome: is generated when a right angle triangle revolves about
its axis.
Domes are used in the areas such as exhibition hall, auditorium, hangers,
and circular tanks.

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 Steps in conical dome design.

1. Consider the section of the conical dome as shown below with the following
parameter. The first task is to find the geometry of the dome when a uniformly
distributed load of magnitude w is acting on it. The parameters of interest are
the rise, R, base and the vertex angle Φ at the crown.

2. Find the self-weight, s/w= ɣt, ɣ= the unit weight of concrete that is mostly
25kN/m3 and t is the thickness of the shell which may be considered as 100mm
(0.01m). Then find total load by summing the self-weight and the live load
that may include snow load or any load given in the problems.
3. Calculate the meridional thrust(T) given as
𝑤ℎ
𝑇= …………………….(1)
2 cos2 ∅

Stress

𝑇
𝜎𝑇 = ……………………………..(2)
𝑡×1

T is obtained from equation 1 as the stress,

t is the thickness
The calculations are done for 1m unit length.

4. Hoop force (H),

𝐻 = 𝑤ℎ tan2 ∅ … … … … … … … … … … … … … . . (3)
Stress
𝐻
𝜎𝐻 = …………………………………………….…..(4)
𝑡×1

5. Compute the minimum area of steel reinforcement using

(𝐴𝑠𝑝 )𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 0.15% × 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒

0.15
(𝐴𝑠𝑝 )𝑚𝑖𝑛 = × (𝑡 × 1)……………………………………………(5)
100

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Choose 8mm diameter bar size to find 𝐴∅ and the spacing can be obtained using
𝐴∅
𝑆𝑉= 1000 ……………………………….(6)
𝐴𝑆𝑃𝑚𝑖𝑛

6. Design of the ring beam

Hoop tension, 𝑃 = 𝑇 sin 𝜃
Total force for the design of the ring beam,
𝑇𝑅𝐵 = 𝑃 × 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠…………………………….(7)
Area of steel required for the ring beam is given as :
𝑃
(𝐴𝑠𝑝 )𝑟𝑒𝑞 = 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑏𝑙𝑒 …………………………..(8)
𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠

Choose a bar size and calculate its area using

𝜋
𝐴𝜑 = 𝐷2
4
(𝐴𝑠𝑝 )
No of bars
𝑟𝑒𝑞
𝑛= ≈ 𝑛,
𝐴𝜑

Actual number of bars is given as:

𝜋
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 (𝐴𝑠𝑟 ) = 𝑛, × 4 𝐷2 ……………………………….(9)

Equivalent area of composite section

𝐴𝑒𝑞 = 𝐴𝑅𝐵 + (𝑚 − 1) 𝐴𝑠𝑟 ………………………………….(10)

Allowable tensile stress

𝑇
𝜎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚 = 𝐴𝑅𝐵 ………………….(11)
𝐸𝑄

Find 𝐴𝑅𝐵 = area of ring beam

Provide a square cross-section of side

𝑏 = √𝐴𝑅𝐵 ………………..(12)
Example 1
Design of conical dome roof for a room with base diameter as 20mm. the live load
due to wind, snow, etc. may be taken as 1500N/m2. The height of the roof is 4m. Use
M40 grade of concrete. Unit weight of concrete 25kN/m2. Use the working stress
method of design. Permissible stress is given as 0.25fck=0.25x40=100MPa

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Solution.

Place a sketch in AutoCAD here of the dome.

Step 1. Geometry of the dome:

In triangle APQ above,

𝐴𝑄 10
tan 𝜃 = 𝑃𝑄= 4

∴ 𝜃 = 68.19°

sin 𝜃 = 0.928. cos 𝜃 = 0.371

Step 2. Loading

Assume the thickness of the shell as 100mm=0.01m

Self-weight of the shell, 𝐺𝐾 = 0.01 × 25 = 2.5𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
Total load 𝑇𝑙 = 2.5 + 1.5 = 4𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
Step 3. Calculation of meridional stress (𝜎𝑚 )
Meridional thrust, T
𝑤ℎ 4×4
𝑇= 2
= = 58.2𝑘𝑁
2 cos ∅ 2 × 0.371
Compressive stress due to meridional thrust

𝑇 58.2
𝜎𝑇 = = = 582𝑘𝑁
𝑡 × 1 0.1 × 1

Step 4: calculation of hoop stress (𝜎𝐻 )

𝐻 = 𝑤ℎ tan2 ∅
𝐻 = 4 × 4 (2.5)2 = 100𝑘𝑁
This is a compressive force.
Hoop stress
𝐻 100
𝜎𝐻 = = = 1000𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
𝑡 × 1 0.1 × 1

Step 5. Steel reinforcement

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As both stresses are safe, only nominal reinforcement should be provided which is
given as:
0.15% of the area of concrete
0.15
𝑨𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒊𝒏. = × (0.1 × 1) = 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝒎𝒎𝟐
100

Using 8mm diameter bar,

𝜋 2
𝐴𝜑 = 𝐷
4
𝜋
𝐴𝜑 = (8)2 = 50𝑚𝑚2
4
𝐴∅ 50
𝑆𝑉= 1000 = 1000 ×
𝐴𝑆𝑃𝑚𝑖𝑛 150

𝑆𝑉= 333.33𝑚𝑚 ≈ 300𝑚𝑚

Provide Y8@300mm c/c

Step 6. Design of the ring beam

Hoop tension in the ring beam
𝑃 = 𝑇 sin 𝜃
𝑃 = 58.2 × 0.928 = 54𝑘𝑁/𝑚
Total tensile force is given by:
𝑇𝑅𝐵 = 𝑃 × 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠
𝑇𝑅𝐵 = 54 × 10 = 540𝑘𝑁
Area of steel needed
𝑇𝑅𝐵
(𝐴𝑠𝑝 )𝑟𝑒𝑞 =
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠
540 × 103
(𝐴𝑠𝑝 )𝑟𝑒𝑞 = = 3857𝑚𝑚2
140
Using 25mm bar size,
𝜋 2
𝐴𝜑 = 25 = 490𝑚𝑚2
4
Number of bars(n)
3857
𝑛= ≈ 8𝑁𝑜
490
Actual areas of steel bars provided is

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 𝜋
𝐴𝑆𝑇 = 8 × ( ) × 252 =3920𝑚𝑚2
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Equivalent area of composite section M=modular ratio and is given as 19

𝐴𝑒𝑞 = 𝐴𝑅𝐵 + (𝑚 − 1) 𝐴𝑠𝑡
𝐴𝑒𝑞 = 𝐴𝑅𝐵 + (19 − 1) × 3920
𝐴𝑒𝑞 = 𝐴𝑅𝐵 + 70560
Tensile stresses generated by ring beam:

𝑇𝑅𝐵 540 × 103

𝜎𝑅𝐵 = =
𝐴𝐸𝑄 𝐴𝑅𝐵 + 70560
Given the allowable stress in a composite section =1.2N/mm2 (𝜎𝑅𝐵 = 1.2𝑁/𝑚𝑚2 ).
𝑇𝑅𝐵 540 × 103
𝜎𝑅𝐵 = = = 1.2
𝐴𝐸𝑄 𝐴𝑅𝐵 + 70560
𝐴𝑅𝐵 = 379440𝑚𝑚2
Taking the square root of 379440=615mm
Provide a square cross-section of 700mm x 700mm

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Exercise
Design of conical dome roof for a room with base diameter as 20mm. The loads on
the shell are as follows:

Live load=2kN/m2
Floor load=1kN/m2
Rise=1m
Thickness, t=125mm
Use M40 grade of concrete. Unit weight of concrete 25kN/m2. Use the working stress
method of design. Permissible stress is given as 0.25fck=0.25x40=100MPa