Shell Structures

Shell roofs:
A shell roof may be defined as a structural curved skin covering a given plan shape and
area.
• Shells are primarily a structural element.
• Strength of any particular shell is inherent in its shape
• Quantity of material required to cover a given plan shape and area is generally less
than other forms of roofing.
The materials used for formation of shell roof are concrete timber and steel.

Concrete shell roofs are thin curved reinforced membrane cast in situ over timber
formwork.
The materials used for formation of shell roof are concrete timber and steel.

Timber shells are generally formed by carefully designed laminated timber.

The materials used for formation of shell roof are concrete timber and steel.

Steel shells are generally formed using single layer grid.

Geodesic Domes
The materials used for formation of shell roof are concrete timber and steel.

Steel shells are generally formed using single layer grid.

Cast in situ shells: concrete shells being popular technique used for its construction are often
very costly to construct since the formwork required is usually purpose made from timber which
in itself is a shell roof and has a little chance of being reused for several contracts.
 
They are classified under three main categories

• Domes
• Vaults
• Saddle shapes and conoids.
When two barrel vaults intersect the lines of intersection are called groins. Barrel vaults will tend
to flatten unless adequately restrained and in vaults restraining is done at ends in the form of a
diaphragm and along the edges.
Conoid shells: Conoids a similar to barrel vaults but is double curvature shells as opposed to a
single curvature of the barrel vault. As per their formations two basic geometrical forms are
possible:
Hyperbolic Paraboloids: These are double-curvature saddle-shaped shells formed generally by
moving a vertical parabola over another vertical parabola set at right angle to the moving
parabola. The saddle shape created is termed as hyperbolic paraboloid because horizontal
section taken through the roof will give a hyperbolic outline and a vertical section will result in
parabolic outline.