An Introduction to

Shell Structures
AN INTRODUCTION TO

Shell Structures
THE ART AND SCIENCE
OF VAULTING

Michele Melaragno
Professor of Architecture and Building Sciences
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

~ VAN NOSTRAND REINHOLD

~ _ _ _ _ _ New York
Copyright © 1991 by Van Nostrand Reinhold
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1991
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 90-41113
ISBN 978-1-4757-0225-5 ISBN 978-1-4757-0223-1 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4757-0223-1
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16 15 14 13 12 11 109 B 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Melaragno, Michele G.
Introduction to shell structures: the art and science of vaulting / by Michele
Melaragno
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Shells (Engineering) 2. Domes I. Title.

TA660.S5M445 1991
624.1'7762 -dc20 90-41113
CIP
"The vault never sleeps. . . "

-A Middle Eastern aphorism

 Contents

Preface xi
Acknowledaments xiii

Part I
WOOD AND MASONRY DOMES

1. Domes: Their Morpholoaical Sianificance 3

Origins and Symbolism of Domes 4
Superstitious and Sacred Forms 5
Mortuary Symbolism 8
Christian Symbolism 10
Notes 11

2. Domes: From Ancient to Islamic 13

Domes from Their Ancient Beginnings 13
Roman Domes and Vaults 26
Early Christian Domes 32
Domes in Christian Architecture 34
Byzantine Domes 35
Islamic Domes 41
Notes 55

3. Domes from the Romanesque to the Present 57

Romanesque Domes 57
Domes in Renaissance and Baroque Italy 57
Architects of the Renaissance and Baroque Periods 71
European Domes Outside Italy 73

vii
 Contents

Further Development 79
The End of an Era 86
Notes 88

4. Dome Technologies 89
Structural Systems 89
Domes: Basic Forces 90
Lanterns and Skylights 96
The Structural Characteristics of Masonry 96
Basic Vaulting 99
From Masonry to Concrete 100
Timbrel Vaulting 100
The Erection of Domes-Early Technology 102
Ceramic Domes for Developing Countries 105
Wooden Domes 106
Notes III

Part II
CONCRETE SHELLS: FUNDAMENTALS AND CASE STUDIES

5. Thin Shells 11 5
Shells and Surface Structures 11 5
Thin Shells and Space Frames 116
Curvature and Strength I 16
Shell Thickness 1I 8
Shells in Nature 120
The Origins of Man-made Shells 121
Overall Structural Equilibrium 122
Floating Concrete Shells for Boats and Ships 123
Prestressed Hulls 125
Ferrocement Hulls at Present 126
Notes 127

6. Selected Shapes of Shells 129

Geometric Aspects 129
Barrel Shells 130
Conoidal Shells 132
Cantilevered Shells 134
Hyperboloids 137

7. Significant Examples of Concrete Shells in the Twentieth Century 143

Buildings 143
Shells in Art 179

viii
 Contents

Experimental Shells 182

Shell Builders of the Twentieth Century 182
The Future of Thin Shells 193
Notes 194

8 . Construction Aspects of Shells 195

The Construction - Design Relationship 195
Supports 203
Hinges and Ribs 208
Precast Shell Technology 212
Double-shell Construction 2 14
Edge or Boundary Members 214
Prestressing 21 5
Posttensioning 2 19
Professional Guidance for Thin-shell Design Work 220
Notes 222

9. Computer AnalySiS of Shells and Domes 223

The Finite Method 223

Part III
PRACTICAL AIDS FOR THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF THIN SHELLS

10. Empirical Desian of Masonry Vaultina 241

Empirical Rules 241
Shape Optimization 243
Empirical Rules for Buckling 243
Funicular Polygons Through Three Points 245
Wind Forces 246
Notes 247

11. Spherical Shells 249

Proportioning and Sizing of Concrete Thin Shells 249
Spherical Dome Design 249
Nonspherical Dome Design 255
Notes 255

12. Barrel Shells 259

Barrel Vaults 259
Barrel Shells 260
Short Barrel Shells 260
Long Barrel Shells 267

ix
 Contents

13. The Desisn of Hyperbolic Paraboloids 271

Saddle-type Hyperbolic Paraboloids 271
Four-gable-type Hyperbolic Paraboloids 278
Umbrella-type Hyperbolic Paraboloids 283
Inverted Umbrella-type Hyperbolic Paraboloids 289

Part IV
SKELETAL STEEL STRUCTURES AND MEGADOMES

14. Trussed Domes 297

Skeletal Structures 297
Geodesics and Space Frames 299
Trussed Domes and Their Builders 300
Trussed-dome Geometry and Technology 305
Types of Trussed Domes 308
Space-frame Domes 320
Cable (Tensegrity) Domes 322
Pneumatic Domes 324
Notes 325

15. Computer Analysis of Trussed Domes 327

Epiiooue 341
Appendix A ACI Buildino Code Requirements for Thin Shells and Folded Plates 343
Appendix B Excerpts from The Engineering Index Manual 1989 359
Selected Bibiiooraphy 407
Index 419

x
 Preface

The art of building dome shell structures has given to the baroque for its assumed pompo-
been with us since ancient times. Current ex- sity in glorifying curves. In practical terms
amples in the Astrodome, the Superdome, such an attitude in design is clearly mani-
the Kingdome, and the Florida Suncoast fested in the present cityscapes that are to-
Dome stand to remind us of the counterpoint tally free of arches, domes, shells, and any
they play to the Pantheon, S. Sophia, S. other form that is not rectilinear. Is this what
Maria del Fiore, and St. Peter. The latter we really want-plans and elevations with
may be thought of by some as being ancient only straight lines, ninety-degree angles, or,
history, but they are present in the twentieth in some daring cases, forty-five-degree
century and hence are a part of our present angles? It does not seem so.
and future. Why do scholars continue to Similarly, the curricula in both civil engi-
study them? What can they teach us? A re- neering and architecture in structures seem
vival of interest in curvilinear structures is to ignore intentionally arches and vaults, lim-
under way, as the current examples just cited iting these subjects to graduate programs in
testify. thin-shell design as being a specialized eso-
At the beginning of this century, under teric subject. This tendency does not present
the influence of the art movement and the a free choice but is rather a limiting rule
dominance of industrialized building mate- passively accepted that will be passed on to
rials, any remnants of curvilinear architec- students. Arches, vaults, and thin-shelled
ture were mercilessly banished. Within that structures must be rediscovered. As the mon-
period avant-garde art emphatically pro- astic orders of the Middle Ages protected the
claimed a total repudiation of the traditions remnants of classical culture, our schools
and classical revivals that in architecture were have the responsibility to preserve these fun-
symbolized mostly by arches and vaults. damental concepts and theories of design
Ready-to-use rectilinear steel beams and col- without regard to ephemeral trends. It is
umns and easy-to-build rectilinear concrete helpful to remember that this approach has
forms struck a lethal blow to the curvilinear always been the philosophy of higher educa-
approach in architecture. Rectilinearity be- tion. Furthermore, it is obvious that in practi-
came synonymous with rationality, while cur- cal terms this orientation will enrich the spec-
vilinearity came to symbolize decadence. Re- trum of design options that have been
member, for instance, the negative stigma restricted for so long. This concept is not an

xi
 Preface

isolated observation but finds strong support tectural history, concrete shell structures cov-
in the current philosophy of post-modernism ered as case studies in the architectural press
as defined by Charles Jencks. and in scientific engineering texts from the
This work is dedicated to those architects structural point of view, and large steel
and engineers who, in common practice and domes usually described only in engineering
without special expertise in shells, have be- periodicals. However, these two disciplines
come interested in the practical design of and professions should not be dissociated, in
curvilinear forms, the origins of these forms, either theory or practice. From the start, se-
and future applications of them. Masonry lecting an architectural form implies having a
domes, concrete shells, and large steel con- structural system, thus involving both the ar-
temporary domes are presented in historical chitect and the engineer from the conceptual
terms as case studies and in conceptual terms phase. To exploit fully the potential that is
from the architectural and structural point of available in using curvilinear forms it is essen-
view. The same topics are then covered again tial for the two professions to develop over-
in practical terms, to allow one to make pre- lapping knowledge, an integration of under-
liminary designs using concrete shells of any standing. This work combines architectural
configuration using the finite method history, conceptual design theory, and basic
through a computer program outlined step- engineering into one interwoven format. In
by-step and to draw preliminary designs for discussing architectural history we are not
various types of domes, barrels, and hyperbo- studying history per se, but rather those ex-
lic paraboloids, and to make initial designs amples of domes and vaults built in the past
for steel domes. To achieve an architectural- that have survived to the present, from which
engineering approach, mathematics have we may learn methods and designs for use in
purposely been kept to a minimum, using current applications. The old adage of un-
only simple formulas and a few numerical derstanding the past to predict the future
sample problems. The mostly freehand illus- applies here.
trations focus on essentials by avoiding hard- Why is there a revival of interest in shell
line renderings, to downplay technical structures, and where it might lead? Cost fac-
aspects and give free rein to the subject mat- tors, materials availability, labor supply,
ter and reader creativity. The wide scope of housing crises, solutions to domestic and
the material makes it necessary to omit such Third World problems all playa part and are
aspects as analytical geometry, the classifica- examined here. With today's almost unlim-
tions of shell forms, and an analysis of mem- ited computer technology and the knowledge
brane stresses. that can be gained from understanding the
Assimilating masonry domes, concrete domes and vaults built both in the past and
shells, and steel domes into one work makes it present, it is hoped that this work on the
necessary to combine the languages of archi- practical aspects of designing curvilinear
tecture and engineering. An overview of forms will contribute to further exploration
most literature currently available shows that and encourage the application of thin shells
this is not a common practice. Masonry by the engineers and architects to whom it is
domes are usually discussed in texts on archi- addressed.

xii
 Acknowlednments

With deep appreciation I wish to acknowl- Mouton (Tulane University), Edward Allen
edge the contribution of my wife, Deborah; (Yale University), Charles Mitchell and Luz
in compiling the manuscript, she helped me Aveleyra (UNC, Charlotte), Mohsen Sefat,
to overcome a limitation derived from the Mrs. Felix Candela, D.]. Gross and James T.
onset of my visual impairment. Special grati- Langman (Roberts & Schaefer), David Kulla
tude is extended to my former student and (Duke Power), and Donald Wright (Dow
assistant Escandar Hadijizadeh, who pre- Chemical). I would like to express my sincere
pared most of the ink drawings, and to the respect for Van Nostrand Reinhold editor
many others who contributed through tele- Gene Dallaire and my gratitude for his trust
phone discussions and by sending reference in my work. I am very grateful to Joy Aqui-
materials. Among them are Dr. Anton Te- lino, also of Van Nostrand Reinhold, whose
desko, Dr. David Geiger, Dr. Stefan Medwa- efforts made the completion of this book
dowski (lASS), Jack Christiansen, Elwin C. possible.
Robison (Kent State University), William

ERRATA

The Publisher regrets that the following lines were omitted

from page xiii: Acknowledgments of
AN INTRODUCTION TO SHELL STRUCTURES:
The Art And Science Of Vaulting by Michele Melaragno.

A special word of appreciation to Professors Jerzy A.

Starczewski and Bruce Moore of the Hammons School
of Architecture at Drury College for their editing of the
final manuscript exclusive of graphics.

xiii