SHELL ROOFS-

SHELL ROOFS ARE THREE

DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURES
CONSTRUCTED WITH A
CURVED SOLID SLAB OR
MEMBRANE THAT ACTS AS A
STRETCHED SKIN.
IT IS THE STIFFNESS OF
SUCH A SLAB OR MEMBRANE
THAT TRANSFERS THE LOAD
OF THE STRUCTURE TO THE
POINT OF SUPPORT.

SHELLS ARE GENERALLY-

SINGLE CURVATURE
CYLINDRICAL OR PARABOLIC IN FORM

DOUBLE CURVATURE
SPHERICAL AND MORE COMPLICATED
Kimbell Art Museum: Architect: Louis Kahn
 Janus Et Cie fashion Other Metro Contemporary Family Room Innovative Designs with bar
counter barrel vault ceiling built in cabinets built in window seat cable lighting pool table
wood ceiling
Barrels Cantilevered beyond the end frames
The main characteristics of a
shell:
- It is a very thin curved membrane
(60 to 65 mm in thickness)
- The restraints or beams at the edges
of the shell help eliminate the bending
stresses
- Direct stresses are transmitted in a
direction parallel to the cut edges
- Additional stiffening members in the
form of End frames or Diaphragms
are required in addition to the Edge
beams to stiffen the cut end and
prevent them from buckling
- It is possible to cantilever a Shell-
barrel vault beyond its length as it acts
as a beam along its length.
SINGLE CURVATURE SHELLS
are generally in two forms-
- Long Span
- Short Span
Long Span barrels are those
in which the Span is shorter
than its width.