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Lecture - 4 Shell Structures
Lecture - 4 Shell Structures
Lecture 4
Ar.C.Naga Vaishnavi
Ar.M.Padma
• A shell structure is a thin curved membrane or slab usually of
reinforced concrete that functions both as structure and covering.
• The term “shell” is used to describe the structures which possess
strength and rigidity due to its thin, natural and curved form such
as shell of egg, a nut, human skull, and shell of tortise.
Introduction
• Single curvature shell: They are curved on one linear axis and are a part of a cylinder
or cone in the form of barrel vaults and conoid shells.
• Double curvature shell: They are either part of a sphere, or a hyperboloid of
revolution.
• The terms single curvature and double curvature do not provide a precise geometric
distinction between the form of shell because a barrel vault is single curvature but so
is a dome.
• The terms single and double curvature are used to distinguish the comparative rigidity
of the two forms and complexity of centering necessary to construct the shell form.
Forms of curvature
SURFACES OF TRANSLATION :
• Surfaces of translation are generated by sliding a plane curve along another plane curve,
while Keeping the orientation of the sliding curve constant.
• The latter curve, on which the original curve slides, is called the generator of the surface.
• In the special case in which the generator is a straight line, the resulting surface is called a
cylindrical surface.
Forms of curvature
SURFACES OF TRANSLATION :
RULED SURFACES :
Forms of curvature
Circular cylinder
(barrel)
cones
Shells
Circular or non
circular cylinder
cones
(non d surface
(developable
developable Elliptic paraboloids
shells)
●
Circular domes
●
Surfaces of
●
shells) Surfaces of
Parabloids of revolution
●
revolution
translation/ruled
revolution
surface
• Hyperboloids of • Hyperbolic
revolution of one paraboloids
sheet • Conoids
• Hyperboloids of
revolution of one
sheet
DEVELOPABLE AND NONDEVELOPABLE SURFACES :
• Surfaces with double curvature cannot be developed, while those with single
curvature can be developed.
In other words, surfaces with positive and negative Gaussian curvature (i.E. Synclastic
and anticlastic surfaces) cannot be developed, while those with zero Gaussian curvature
can be developed.
Forms of curvature
DEVELOPABLE SURFACES (SINGLY CURVED) :
Forms of curvature
NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES (DOUBLY CURVED) :
E.G., Sphere or hyperbolic paraboloid.
They are mainly classified as : 1)synclastic 2) anticlastic
SYNCLASTIC SHELLS:
• These shells are doubly curved
• And have a similar curvature in each direction. E.G. Domes
• A dome is a good example of a synclastic shell, it is doubly curved and can be formed by
rotating a curved line around an axis.
• A dome can be split up into two different directions; vertical sections separated by
longitudinal arch lines (also called meridians), and horizontal sections separated by hoops
or parallels.
STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR :
• Similar to arches under a uniform loading the dome is under compression everywhere,
and the stresses act along the arch and hoop lines.
Forms of curvature
NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES (DOUBLY
CURVED) :
Forms of curvature
NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES (DOUBLY CURVED) :
Hyperbolic paraboloid:
• Formed by sweeping a convex parabola along a concave parabola or
by sweeping a straight line over a straight path at one end and another
straight path not parallel to the first.
Structural behaviors:
• Depending on the shape of the shell relative to the curvature, there will
be different stresses.
• Shell roofs, have compression stresses following the convex curvature
and the tension stresses follow the concave curvature.
Forms of curvature
TENSION TIE :
• Whenever the shells are supported vertically at their
edges, a tension tie is required around the perimeter at
the intersection of the dome and the wall.
• However, it is important to note that the tie will be
funicular for any shape of either the plan or Elevation.
Forms of curvature
CYLINDRICAL BARREL VAULTS:
Barrel vaults are perhaps the most useful of the shell structures because they
can span upto 150 feet with a minimum of material. They are very efficient
structures because the use the arch form to reduce stresses and thicknesses in the
transverse direction.
CENTERING OF SHELLS
• The barrel vault is the most straight forward
single curvature shell construction.
• It is the part of a cylinder or barrel with
same curvature along its length.
• Any number of continuous barrels or
continuous spans are possible except that
eventually provision is made for the
expansion of the joints in a large structures.
• The barrel vaults are used as parking,
market place, assembly hall ,etc.
• Types of barrel vaults
1. Short span barrel vaults
2. Long span barrel vaults
• Due to self weight and imposed load the thin shell will tend to spread and its curvature flatten
out. To resist this RCC edge beams are cast between columns.
• Edge beams may be cast as dropped beams or upstand beams or partially as both. In hot climate
the dropped beam is used whereas in temperate climate upstand beam is used to form drainage
channel for rain water.
• In multi-bay structures, spreading of the vaults is largely transmitted to the adjacent shells, so
down stand and feather valley beam is used.
ROOF COVERING:
• Shells may be covered with non-ferrous sheet metal, asphalt, bitumen felt, a plastic
membrane or a liquid rubber base coating.
ROOF INSULATION:
• The thin shell offers poor resistance to transfer of heat. The need to add some form of
insulating lining adds considerably to cost of shell.
• The most satisfactory method of insulation is to spread a light weight screed over the shell.
• Difficulties of providing insulation and maintaing the elegance of curved shape makes
these structures largely unsuited to heated buildings in temperate climate.
Advantages Disadvantages
• Very light form of construction. To
span 30.0 m shell thickness • Shuttering problem
required is 60mm • Greater accuracy in
• Dead load can be reduced formwork is required
economizing foundation and • Good labour and supervision
supporting system
necessary
• They further take advantage of the
fact that arch shapes can span • Rise of roof may be a
longer disadvantage
• Flat shapes by choosing certain
arched shapes
• Esthetically it looks good over
other forms of construction