S H E L L

S T R U C T U R E S
DEFINITION

⚫ Shells can be defined as curved structures capable of transmitting loads in more than two directions to supports.
⚫ Loads applied to shell surfaces are carried to the ground by the development of compressive, tensile, and shear stresses
acting in the in-plane direction of the surface.
⚫ Thin shell structures are uniquely suited to carrying distributed loads and find wide application as roof structures in building.
They are, however, unsuitable for carrying concentrated loads.

SHELLS IN NATURE

⚫ Eggshell - The most efficient example as lightness proportion

to its strength is amazingly high.
⚫ Bird’s nest is a good example of an inverted dome, results
from bird’s astonishing instinct to capitalize on the efficiency
of the domed geometric shape and on materials that are readily
available

INTRODUCTION
 TYPES & FORMS OF SHELL STRUCTURES
FOLDED BARREL SHORT INTERSECTION SHELL
DOMES
PLATES VAULTS SHELLS ARCHES
SHELLS

FOLDED PLATES Inclined

Plates
• Folded plate is the simplest of the shell structures. Stiffeners – to carry
•The distinguishing feature of the folded plate is the ease in loads to support &
forming plane surfaces. Therefore, they are more adaptable to to hold plates in
line.
smaller areas than curved surfaces which require multiple use of
forms for maximum economy.
•A folded plate may be formed for about the same cost as a
horizontal slab and has much less steel and concrete for the
same spans. Edge Plates
Columns to – to stiffen
•The structure above may have a simple span, as shown, or support the wide plates
multiple spans of varying length, or the folded plate may structure in air.
cantilever from the supports without a stiffener at the end.

Folded plates

Walls Edge
3-segment Tapered Folded plates Folded plates
Z-shell continuous supported
folded plate folded plates truss rigid frame
with shell folded plates
3 segments

3-SEGMENT FOLDED PLATES

•The dimensions of the plates are dependent on both the width of the barrel and
on the span.
•The depth of the shell should be about 0.10 times the span and the maximum
slope of a plate should not be greater than 40 degrees.
• The slope of the plates is 6/8, which is about 37 degrees and is satisfactory. The
thickness of the plates could be about 3 ½ inches.
Large sloping
Window ventilation – plate
reflected south light
Z-SHELL
•The Z shell is not an efficient structural shape since it is
discontinuous and its effective depth is much less than the actual
vertical depth.
Roof surface is painted
•The spans are limited in comparison to the plates having a large with Al so that sunlight
is reflected through
number of units side by side. windows to the ceiling.

WALLS CONTINUOUS WITH Edge plates

SHELL
CANOPIES
•A two segment structure
is not desirable because it
Walls braced on top & Walls are of tilt – up concrete,
continuous with roof plates, cast on the floor & raised into
has very little torsional
so columns not needed. place by cranes. resistance.
Four segments
• Barrel vaults are perhaps the most efficient of the shell structures because they can span upto 150 feet with a minimum of material.

• If the span is large in comparison to the width, the form is called a long shell. The span/radius ratio is 5. If the length is short, it is called a
short shell. The span/radius ration less than 1 and shells between these limits are called intermediate shells.

•The thickness of the barrel shell is usually based on the minimum thickness required for covering the steel for fireproofing + the space
required for three layers of bars + some space for tolerance.

•If these bars are all half inch rounds - minimum of 3 1/4 inches. Near the supports the thickness may be greater for containing the larger
longitudinal bars.

•If more than one barrel is placed side by side, the structure is a multiple barrel structure and if more than one span, it is called a multiple
span structure.

• Provision should be made for expansion joints in a large structure.

Deep concrete beams with

very thin web structures

Single barrel
vault
Stiffeners – to carry loads
& to support the vault

Edge Plates

Columns to support
Use of arch form reduces stress
the structure in air.
& thickness in transverse
direction Transmission of forces

BARREL VAULTS
•This structure is a cylindrical shell having a large radius in comparison to the
length.

•The principle structural element is the stiffener, usually a reinforced concrete

arch, although steel arches or trusses have been used.

•Many structures built with short shells, such a large hangars and auditoriums, could
have been built with little more dead load by using a ribbed slab or other lightweight
concrete framing system rather than the shell. Long Short
shells shells
Transmission of
forces
Arch Structure Edge beams act like folded
plate structures

•The curve of the shell is determined by

the proper shape of the arch and may be a
circle for small structures.

•The minimum shell thickness should be at

the top in the center of the span. At the
arch, the shell thickness is increased slightly
for local stresses.

Shell spanning
Edge beams (can
between arches
be omitted if shell
is thickened)

SHORT SHELLS
DOMES
 Dome formed by using triangular pieces
of a cylindrical shell arranged in the
•The surfaces that produce the shell appear to meet at an Angle between
form of a square.
intersection. the components
is small

•The structural efficiency depends on the angle of the

intersection of the surfaces. If the angle is small, then a
natural rib is formed by the adjacent elements of the basic Structural action Best type of dome to
of a short shell cover square area.
shells which is much stiffer than the adjacent shells on each
side. An intersection for which the angle is very large is Loads are carried by Edge beam –
the cross beams
called here a shallow intersection. stiffening element

•An intersection of 90 degrees is the optimum value

because it gives a stiff rib.

Cantilevered part of the barrel – span should not be large to

take the bending forces. Skylight can be placed at
4 cylindrical barrels the crown of the dome

Form is suitable for large

Architectural advantage – structure appears to Columns are at the spans – nearly circular in plan
Supported by 4 columns at the float in air. center of each panel
intersection not at the ribs.

INTERSECTION SHELLS
•Shell arches are somewhat in the same category as short shells in that the
shell action is subservient to the arch action. All the thicknesses can be made
quite small of an arch is used because the stresses will be principally
compression.

•The curve of the arch has to be generally a funicular form, that is, it should
fit the thrust line of the applied loads.

• Shells are not very efficient structures if the bending moments are high, as in Each unit is self
supporting
the folded plate rigid frame. Suitable for long
spans
•There are types of shells that fit in several categories. The hyperbolic
paraboloidal dome is really a shell arch.

Long span arches are possible as bending Shearing forces are not very large
moments are much less in an arch than in a – larger holes than barrel vaults
beam can be used

Surface is more difficult to form –

Skylights can be used for lighting widths can be more than folded plates

SHELL ARCHES
Continuity and Curvature
The essential ingredients of a shell structure in all of the foregoing
examples are continuity and curvature.Thus, a fiberglass hull of a boat
is continuous in away that the overlapping planks of clinker
construction are not. A pressure vessel must be obviously constructed
to hold a fluid at pressure, although the physical components may be
joined to each other by riveting, bolting or welding. On the other
hand, an ancient masonry dome or vault is not obviously continuous in
the sense that it may be composed of of separate stone subunits or
voussoirs not necessarily cemented to each other. But in general domes
are in a state of compression throughout, and the subunits are thus
held in compressive contact with each other. The important point here
is that shells are _structurally continuous in the sense that they can
transmit forces in a number of different directions in the surface of the
shell, as required. These structures have quite a different mode of
action from skeletal structures, ofwhich simple examples are trusses,
frameworks, and trees. These structures are only capable of
transmitting forces along their discrete structural members.The
fundamental effect of curvature and its effect on the stregth and
stiffness of a shell.
 Santiago Calatrava
L’Hemisfèric, the distinctive eye-shaped
L’Hemisfèric (Planetarium) construction designed by Santiago
Valencia, Spain Calatrava, was the first element to be
opened to the public in the City of Arts
and Sciences, in April 1998.
The building’s unique architecture comes
alive as the lids of the colossal “Eye of
Knowledge” opens up to reveal the
fascinating setting.

The globe of L’Hemisfèric (the Planetarium), which also

houses the Omnimax theater, is roofed over by an elliptical
shell structure and placed within an elliptical pod that
cradles it like the pupil of an eye.The L’Hemisfèric is set
slightly below grade to avoid visual conflict with the
Science Museum and Palacio de las Artes

The concrete socket of the eye incorporates elongated

aluminium awnings that differ in length and fold upwards
collectively, or as individual units, to form a brise-soleil
roof that opens along the curved central axis of the eye
shape. The concrete encasement has been extended
upwards, and the brise-soleil narrowed and replaced by a
system of slats mounted on each side of pivoting, to
imitate the structure of a feather.

EXAMPLES
•The present technology makes it feasible to build long
span roof structures in wood, steel, or reinforced
concrete.
• Cost of wood is the highest + Span limitations.
•Concrete is cheaper than steel as it can be produced
anywhere at a lower cost.
• Steel is more expensive on a world wide basis.
•Therefore, reinforced concrete thin shell should be the Sydney Opera House – John Utzon
structural system to erect permanent roof structures British Museum –
Norman Foster
enclosing long span buildings.
•But the life span of reinforced concrete thin shells is less
than a century, which is comparatively lesser than the
other systems.
• Concrete domes are becoming increasingly popular.

Venugopal Temple -
Manipal Sangath –
B.V.Doshi Swiss Re “Gherkin”
Hussain – Doshi Gufa
– Norman Foster

Conclusion