SHELL STRUCTURES AND FOLDED PLATES

Athira. P. R
101116007
Third year B-Arch
WHAT ARE SHELL STRUCTURES?

Shell structures are also called plate structures. They are lightweight constructions using shell
elements. These elements, typically curved, are assembled to make large structures. Typical
applications include aircraft fuselages, boat hulls, and the roofs of large buildings. A thin shell
is defined as a shell with a thickness which is small compared to its other dimensions and in
which deformations are not large compared to thickness.

A primary difference between a shell structure and a plate structure is that, in the unstressed
state, the shell structure has curvature as opposed to the plates structure which is flat. Mem-
brane action in a shell is primarily caused by in-plane forces (plane stress), but there may be
secondary forces resulting from flexural deformations. Where a flat plate acts similar to a beam
with bending and shear stresses, shells are analogous to a cable which resists loads through
tensile stresses. The ideal thin shell must be capable of developing both tension and compres-
sion.
The term “shell” is used to describe the structures which possess strenght and rigidity due to
its thin, natural and curved form such as shell of egg, a nut, human skull, and shell of tortise.

POPULAR FORMS OF SHELL STRUCTURES

Concrete shell structures, often cast as a monolithic dome or stressed ribbon bridge or saddle
roof. The thin concrete shell structures are a lightweight construction composed of a relatively
thin shell made of reinforced concrete, usually without the use of internal supports giving an
open unobstructed interior. The shells are most commonly domes and flat plates, but may also
take the form of ellipsoids or cylindrical sections, or some combination thereof. Most concrete
shell structures are commercial and sports buildings or storage facilities.

There are two important factors in the development of the thin concrete shell structures: The
first factor is the shape which was was developed along the history of these constructions.
Some shapes were resistant and can be erected easily. However, the designer’s incessant
desire for more ambitious structures did not stop and new shapes were designed. The second
factor to be considered in the thin concrete shell structures is the thickness, which is usually
less than 10 centimeters. For example, the thickness of the Hayden planetarium was 7.6 centi-
meters.
SINGLE AND DOUBLE CURVATURE SHELLS

• single curvature shell: 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: are either part of a sphere, or a hyperboloid of revolution.
• the terms single curvature and double curvature do not provide a precise gemoetric
distinction between the form of shell because a barrel vault is single curvature but so is a
dome.
• the terms single and doulbe curvature are used to distinguish the comparitive rigidity of
the two forms and complexity of centring necessary to construct the shell form. Barrel vault
conoid dome hyperboloid paraboloid.

FORMS OF CURVATURE:

Surfaces of revolution are generated by the revolution of a plane curve, called the meridio-
nal curve, about an axis, called the axis of revolution.
In the special case of cylindrical and conical surfaces, the meridional curve consists of a line
segment.
e.g.: cylinders, cones, Spherical or elliptical domes, Hyperboloids of revolution, toroid.
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.
Surfaces of translation with rectangular plan:
(a) Elliptic paraboloid (b) cylindrical paraboloid
(c) hyperbolic paraboloid

RULED SURFACES:

Ruled surfaces are generated by sliding each end of a straight line on their own generating
curve. These lines are not necessarily at right angle to the planes containing the end curves.

MATERIAL:
The material most suited for construction of shell structure is concrete because it is a highly
plastic material when first mixed with water that can take up any shape on centring or inside
formwork. Small sections of reinforcing bars can readily be bent to follow the curvature of
shells.
Once the cement has set and the concrete has hardened the RCC membrane or slab acts as a
strong, rigid shell which serves as both structure and covering to the building.
ADVANTAGES OF SHELL STRUCTURES

The curved shapes often used for concrete shells are naturally strong structures.
Shell allowing wide areas to be spanned without the use of internal supports, giving an
open, unobstructed interior.
The use of concrete as a building material reduces both materials cost and the construction
cost.
As concrete is relatively inexpensive and easily cast into compound curves.

DISADVANTAGES OF SHELL STRUCTURES

Since concrete is porous material, concrete domes often have issues with sealing. If not
treated, rainwater can seep through the roof and leak into the interior of the building. On the
other hand, the seamless construction of concrete domes prevents air from escaping, and can
lead to buildup of condensation on the inside of the shell. Shingling or sealants are common
solutions to the problem of exterior moisture, and ventilation can address condensation.
CONSTRUCTION OF BARREL VAULTS

The barrel vault is the most straight forward single curvature shell construction. It is the part
of a cylinder or barrel with same curvaturealong 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

SHORT SPAN BARREL VAULT

Short span barrel vaults are those in which span is shorter than its width. It is used for the
width of the arch ribs between which the barrel vault span.

LONG SPAN BARREL VAULT

Long span barrel vaults are those in which span is larger than its width. Strength of the
structure lies at the right angles to the curvature to that span is longitudinal to the curva-
ture. Usual span of the longitudinal barrel vault is from 12-30 m with its width being about
1/2 the span and rise is 1/5 of the width. To cover larger areas multibay ,multi span roofs can
be used where the roof is extended across the weather.

STIFFENING BEAMS AND ARCHES: Under local loads the thin shell of the barrel vault will
tend to distort and lose shape and even collapse if the resultant stresses were more. To
strengthen the shell against this possibility, stiffening beams or arches are cast integrally
with the shell. The common practice is to provide a stiffening member between the column
supporting the shell. Downstand stiffening rcc beam is most efficient because of its depth,
but this interrupts the line of soffit of vaults, for this upstand stiffening beam is used. The
disadvantage of upstand beam is that it breaks up the line of roof and need protections.
EDGE AND VALLEY BEAMS: 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.

EXPANSION JOINTS: The change in temperature causes the expansion and contraction in
concrete structures, which causes the structures to deform or collapse. To limit this continu-
ous expansion joints are formed at the interval of about 30m, along the span and across the
width of the multi-bay and multi-span barrel vault roofs. Longitudinal expansion joints are
formed in a up stand valley.

ROOF LIGHTS: Top light can be provided by deck light formed in the crown of vault or by
dome light. The deck light can be continuous or formed as individual lights.roof lights are
fixed to an upstand curb cast integrally with the shell. Advantage of the shell is that its con-
cave soffit refelects and helps to disperse light over area below. Disadvantage is that top
light may cause over heating and glare.

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 provid-
ing insulation and mainting the elegance of curved shape makes these structures largely
unsuited to heated buildings in temperate climate.
APPLICATION OF SHELL STRUCTURES IN BUILDINGS

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

CAPELA BOSJES

FELIX CANDELA
FOLDED PLATES

DEFINITION

Folded plates are assemblies of flat plates rigidly connected together along their edges in such a
way that the structural system capable of carrying loads without the need for additional support-
ing beams along mutual edges. Engineer Eudene Freyssinet performed the first roof with the
folded structure in 1923 as an aircraft hangar at Orly Airport in Paris.

FOLDING SYSTEM IN NATURE

The principle of folding as a tool to develop a general structural shape has been known for a long
time. Folded structure systems which are analogous to several biological systems such as found
at broadleaf-tree leaves, petals and foldable insect wings, are adopted to be employed in a new,
technical way. Eg, Leaf of Palm Tree Beetle Insect With Foldable Wings Seashell

THE PRINCIPLE OF FOLDING

The structural characteristics of folding structures depend on-

The pattern of the folding.
Their geometrical basic shape.
Its material.
The connection of the different folding planes.
The design of the bearings.

STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF FOLDING PLATES

Load Distribution process :

At first, the external forces are transferred to

the shorter edge of one folding element.

There, the reaction as an axial force is

divided between the adjacent elements.

Then the forces transferred to the bearings.

TYPES OF FOLDED PLATES

Based on geometric shape folded structures can be divided into:

Folded plate surfaces structures
Folded plate frames structures
Spatial folded plate structures

TYPES OF FOLDED STRUCTURE CLASSIFICATION OF FOLDED STRUCTURES

Based on the material they are made of:

Folded structures made of reinforced concrete
Metal folded structures
Folded structures of wood
Folded structures of glass
Folded structures of plastic materials
Folded constructions made in combination of different materials
ADVANTAGES:
Very light form of construction. To span 30 m shell thickness required is 60 mm only.
The use of concrete as a building material reduces both materials cost and a construction
cost. Longer span can be provided.
Flat shapes by choosing certain arched shapes.
Aesthetically it looks good over other forms of construction.

DISADVANTAGES:
Shuttering is difficult.
Greater accuracy in formwork is required.
Good labor and supervision necessary.
Rise of roof may be a disadvantage.

APPLICATIONS OF FOLDED PLATES IN BUILDINGS

US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

RIVERSIDE MUSEUM