G Engineering Center: Pro! Ramaswamy, Director Strnctural Res Arch Roorkee, India

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 6

Pro! G. S.

Ramaswamy, Director, Strnctural Engineering (30-1 c)


Research Center, Roorkee, India
and
1110 Funicular Coneopt
The normal sequenee followed in designing shell roofs
demands Ihal lhe firsl slep is lhe selection of lhe shape or
X= Fx~ 1+ p2 + q2 (30-2a)
geomelry of lhe shell surface. Then , lhe slresses in lhe shell
surface under loads are delermined. In selecling shell shapes,
no deliherate effort is made to ensure a favourable state Df
Y F;.J 1+ p2 + q2 (30-2b)
slress in lhe malerial selecled for building lhe shell . Malhe-
matical convenience seems to be the only consideration
influencing the choice af shapes. There are many advantages to
Z Fx~ 1+ p2 + q2 (30-2c)
be gained by reversing this traditional sequence ; ar, in other
where :
words, we may assume a desired state cf stress in the material
after carefully examining its strong and weak points and then
proceed lo find a shape in wlUch lhe chosen slress slale will 8z 8z
p = - andq= -
prevai! under a specified loading condition. Shapes so found 8x 8y
are called funicular shapes.
We may ilIuslrale Ihis concepl wilh reference lo brick We may wrile down lhe equalion of equi!ibrium for lhe
masonry. Our efforl in building wilh brick masonry will element in the z direction as:
naturally be direcled lowards fully exploiling ils slrong poinl ,
its compressive strength. Because tensile strength is its weak
paiot , it is necessary to ensure, at the same time , that the
structure develops little or no tcosiao. These two desirable
objeclives are simullaneously realized by choosing a slale of
pure compression unaccompanied by shear in the shell roof.
An elemenl taken oul of such a shell and ils plan projeclion pX + qY - Z (30-3)
are shown in Figure 30-1. The following well-known relalions
exist between the real stress resultants N X1 N y , and N xy and
lhe pseudo slress resultanls N x , N y , and N xy and belween lhe Most shell roofs in practice carry only vertical loads. For
real loads Fx' F y' and F z and the pseudo loads X, Y, and Z. Ihis condilion of loading X = Y = O, and Equalion 30-3 lakes
lhe formo
N~ 1+ q2 (30-1 a)
x 1+ p2 2N - Z (30-4)
xy 8x8y

(30-lb) LeI lhe vertical load acling on lhe shell be g per unil area.
Inserting llUs value in equalion 30-4 , we gel:

251
252 Designing, Engineering, and Constructing with Masonry Products

2 Inserting these conditions in Equation 30-6, we get ,


2N ~+
xy 6x6y
(30-9)

(30-5)
Equation 30-9 dennes the desired shape of the funicular
surface. This relation may be generalized to make it inde-
In practice, shallow shells are general1y favoured for roofing pendent of the coordinate system employed by recasting
applications. For such shell roofs. 1'2 and q2 are small in Equalion 30-9 in vectorial form as:
comparison with unity. and Qne may write:

2 (30-10)
2N 6 z + (30-6)
xy 6x6y
It must be distincUy understood that a shell surface can be
At this stage let us specify the desired stress state. As made funicular only for one specined loading condition. In
already explained . it i5 desirable to have a pUfe compression our case, vertical loading was selected, because the dominant
state in the masonry unaccompanied by shear. Shear stresses load to which a sheli roof is normally subjected is vertical.
should be obviated as they cause tension. For 0l'timum However, experience gained with numcrous funicular shells
.!!.tilization of the compressive strength of the material Nx and a1ready built shows that , a1though their shape is selected for
Ny must be equal. These conditions may be formulated as optimum performance under vertical loads, Ihey behave very
follows: well under other loads.

(30-7) AnaIytical Methods for Finding Funicular Shapes

where N is the magnitude of the desired compression in the Equation 30-10 is the weU-known Poisson's differential
masonry . and: equation of mathematical physics. It may also be noted that it
is the equation which governs the height Z of the PrandUI
(30-8) membrane in the Membrane Analogy for Torsion . Many
available results relating to torsion af prisma ti c bars afvarious
cross sections 2 may, therefore , be drawn on to find funicular
~----------------x
shell shapes corresponding to various ground plans. Figure
30-2 gives equations af funicular surfaces over some af the
usual graund plans. The ordinates of a funicular surface over a
given groulld plan can also be computed accurately at desired
intervals by manual methods of computation such as Relax-
ation. Alternatively , by employing numerical methods, the
y

Fy
,LF./#__ N,
Poisson 's equatian can be solved on an electronic digital
computer to arrive at ordinates of lhe surface accurately.

Experimental Methods of Generating Funicular Shapes

A simple method of generating funicular shapes successfully


Ny is to make a wooden mould whose ground plan is similar to
that of the structure which is to be roofed over by a funicular
shell. A flexible fabric , stretched taut across lhe mould , is
loaded with wet plaster of paris. The fabric is now allowed to
sag and the p]aster to set. On inversion, the shape obtained is
the required funicular surface. The ordinates or the prototype

y
J--x F---N,
roof are easily obtained by multiplying the ordinates of the
model by the scale factor. The modol of a funicular shell roof
over an oval ground plan, generated by tltis process, is shown
in Figure 30-3.
A more sophisticated method is to blow up a rubber
membrane over the desired ground plan and measure its
ordinates.
It is also well-known that the Poisson's equation involved
Figure 30-1. can be solved by the Electrical Analogy Method.
Funicular Brick Shell Roofs for Industrial Buildings 253

In building large funicular shell roofs , the author's experi-


ence dictates that ordinates necd to be at 2' intervals for o Groul'Id plau [\Ultion \0 ..,
\ ,urra"
accurate fabrication af forms. ~o.+c. -t
z. ti,o.~ ~
~

-(-o)
,
no '
.'

$'
)lI'[ n- l ,3 ,5 • .
Bending Analysis of Furneular Sh.lIs i
Equation 30-10 dermes the funicular surface only ir a (i co~h W ) c.os --
n ff b
n",
-za-
membrane stress state prevails . Secondary bending stresses do
c.osh
"
arise in lhe shell in Ule neighbourhood of the edge members. A

.. - .-,

m 2:=
study was reeently made of a funicular shell using the shallow
z • 16!.~ ~(_\)T
shell bending theory of Vlasov 3 . It was found that even after n _ l, 3, 5, .
n
1 x
bending stresses are taken into aceount . lhe sheJl is more OI
less in a state of low compression throughout. The small • (, - c.O$h lI1tY)
---rã""" c.o~
tensile stresses that develop are well witltin the limits that co!.h 'fi;- -,,-
n"

unreinforced brick masonry can withstand without cracking.

Examples of Praetical Application

The author has sueeessfully built two types of funicular


shells using brick masonry. The details of the first type are
l

$ ~
X X . --
2N
g a1. b
ai "b2
1
(1.
• Y
ar b'"- + 2 I)

given in Figure 304. Several shells of this type have been built
for the National Design Institute, Ahmedabad, India. Figure
30-5 shows the finished view of one of the shells. The shells
measuring 41' x 41' are supported 00 reinforced concrete edge
beams }'-2" x 3'-6" which, in tum, rest on reinforced concrete
colurnns. The roof is 4-1/2" thiek and is built ofbricks laid on

(f)- x
.
, . ...!..-(x2 +y2_ a1)

w-
>-- . ----l
edge. The joints wltieh are 1/2" and 1-1/2" wide are filled with
mortar. The brickwork is lightly reinforced by the provision of , • % z.~ [1 (x,2 +y2)_-h()I,5 - 3xi)-z~ z
a]
3/8"-<liameter reinforeement at 10-1/2" in both direetions.
The joint width is entirely governed by the need to provide
adequate concrete coveI to the reinforcement to prateet it ~~ ~
fram corrosion caused by emorescence. The handmade bricks
had an average compressive strength of 800 p.s.i. Th.is quaJity Figure 30-2. Equations of funicular surfaces over some of the
of brick was considered quite adequa!e for the purpose as the usual ground plans.

Figure 30-3. Model of a funiculor shell roof over an oval ground plano
254 Designing, Engineering, and Constructing with Masonry Products

~In ner face of edge beam

>-t-_ __ 3/8~ Dio. bars ot 101ft clc


both woys

I
~ tnncr face of edge beam

PlAN SHQWING REINFORCEMENT

, EdO' b,em


3/8 Dia . bors @
#. CIC both ways
4 Nos J /4 dtO, bors
3/e" Dia. stirrups
4 Nos. 3/4· dia . bars

_ 4 Nos." dia. bors

14·-+ SECTION XX DETAll AT A

Figure 30-4. Funicular shell in reinforced brick wark.

Figure 30-5. Finished view af


funicular shell.
Funicular Brick She/l Roofs for Industrial Buildings 255

fac~ of edge beom

r f-' f-' f-' --


I
'~ I
I 9 5 /; '"
I
I / - "\
I A )
I
I "- r- /
i
I
Ii
I I
I---Inner foce of edge beam

PLAN SHOWING THE ARRANGEMENT ISOMETRJC VIEW DF A


OF BlOCKS HOLLOW ClAY 8l0CK

~'
Hollow cloy blocks
boom

{ AfOC,,-

'2'
4 Nos. vt dia . bars
llá Dia stirrups
4 Nos. 5/0' dia. ba r!>

+-=-+
SECTION XX DETAIL AT A

Figure 30-6. Unreinforced funicular shell built with hollow c/ay blocks.

Figure 30- 7. Finished view of roof


soffit.
256 Designing, Engineering, and Constructing with Masonry Products

compressive stresses that develop in lhe shell under a vertical Stress-resultant in the shell in the x direction
load of 52.5 p.s.f. were of the order of only 175 p.s.i. Stress resultant in the shell in the y direction
A different technique was employed for a masonry shell Shear slress resultant
roof recently built at Roorkee , India. Measuring 22' x 20', it is Psuedo slress resultant in lhe x direction
built of extruded hollow clay blocks of the type shown in Psuedo stress-resultant in the y direction
Figure 30-6. The 1:4 cement morta r joints between the blocks Psuedo shear stress resultant
are only 5/8" wide. The shell is supported on reinforced Externai force acting on the shell elemen t in the x
concrete edge beams which rest on colurnos. Details Df this direction
roof are given in Figure 30-6. A finished view of the roof soffit ExternaI force acting on shell element in y
cao be seeo in Figure 30-7. direction
Externai force acting on shell element in z
Conclusion direction
x Psuedo force in x direction
Brick funicular shell roofs of the type described in this y Psuedo force in y direction
chapter offer ao economical means af roofing large cúlurnn- Z Psuedo force in z dircction
free spaces required for factory buildings. They are especially ,,2 Laplacian operator
suitable for wide application in the developing countries af the g Verticalload acting on the sheU per unit area
world where there is a pressing need to conserve lhe small N Desired compressive stress in the shell
supply of cement and steel. The brick funicular shell roofs
developed by lhe author are ao outgrowth af lhe extensive
work carried out by him aver the past ten years 011 reinforced
concrete funicular shells. 4 ,S References

Nomenclature 1. Timoshenko, S" and Goudier, J. N. , "Theory of Elasticity,"


Ellgineering Societies Monographs, McGraw-Hill Book Co. ,
x,y,z co-ordinates defining lhe surface of the shell 1951, pp. 268-269.
z=f(x,y) Equation of the surface 2. Timoshenko, S., and Goodier, J. N., "Theory of Elasticity,"
8z Engineering Societies MOllographs, McGraw-Hill Book Co.,
p
8x 195 I , pp. 259-285.
8z 3. Vlasov, V. Z. , "Generce Theory of Shells and its applicatian
q = in Engineering," TTF-99 , NASA, 1964.
8y
4. Ramaswamy, G. S., "Analysis , Design and Construction af
8 2z
r = a New Shell of Double Curvature ," Proceedillgs of the
8x 2 Symposium 011 Shell Research, Delft , Augus! 30-September
8 2z 2 , 1961.
s = 5. Ramaswamy , G. S., Raman , N. V. , and George , Zacharia,
8x8y
"A Funicular Shell for the Conference Hall of the Kanpur
8 2z Municipal Corporation - Design and Construction ," lndian
t =
8y2 Concrete/ouma/, Vol. 36 , No:9, September, 1962.

You might also like