Shell structures

Lecture 4
Ar.C.Naga Vaishnavi
Ar.M.Padma
 A shell structure is a thin curved membrane or slab usually of
reinforced concrete that functions both as structure and covering.
The term shell is used to describe the structures which possess
strength and rigidity due to its thin, natural and curved form
such as shell of egg, a nut, human skull, and shell of tortise.

Introduction
 Single curvature shell: They 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: They are either part of a sphere, or a hyperboloid of
revolution.
The terms single curvature and double curvature do not provide a precise geometric
distinction between the form of shell because a barrel vault is single curvature but so
is a dome.
The terms single and double curvature are used to distinguish the comparative rigidity
of the two forms and complexity of centering necessary to construct the shell form.

Single or double curvature shells

SURFACES OF REVOLUTION

Surfaces of revolution are generated by the revolution of a plane curve, called

the meridional 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, toroids.

Forms of curvature
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

Forms of curvature
 SURFACES OF TRANSLATION :

If two parabolas are similar, the surface becomes a

surface of revolution, called paraboloid of revolution.

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.
Conoid,
generated by
Cooling tower,
straight line
generated by
traveling along
straight lines
another straight
gould 1988
line at one end
and curved line
at other end.
Joedicke 1963

Forms of curvature
 Surfaces of
Surfaces of
translation/ruled
revolution
surface
Hyperboloids of Hyperbolic
revolution of one paraboloids
sheet Conoids
Hyperboloids of
revolution of one
sheet
DEVELOPABLE AND NONDEVELOPABLE SURFACES :
Surfaces with double curvature cannot be developed, while those with single
curvature can be developed.

In other words, surfaces with positive and negative Gaussian curvature (i.E. Synclastic
and anticlastic surfaces) cannot be developed, while those with zero Gaussian curvature
can be developed.

Forms of curvature
DEVELOPABLE SURFACES (SINGLY CURVED) :

Developable surface is a surface that can be unrolled onto a flat plane

without tearing or stretching it.
It is formed by bending a flat plane, the most typical shape of a
developable shell is a barrel, and a barrel shell is curved only in one
direction.

BARREL : Arch action & beam action together make a barrel.

There are mainly two types of barrel :
- Long barrels , arch action is prominent
- Short barrels, beam action is prominent

STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF SHORT BARREL SHELLS: These

shells are typically supported at the corners and can behave in one or a
combination.

STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF LONG BARREL SHELLS: These are

typically supported at the corners and behave structurally as a large beam.

Forms of curvature
NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES (DOUBLY CURVED) :
E.G., Sphere or hyperbolic paraboloid.
They are mainly classified as : 1)synclastic 2) anticlastic

SYNCLASTIC SHELLS:
These shells are doubly curved
And have a similar curvature in each direction. E.G. Domes
A dome is a good example of a synclastic shell, it is doubly curved and can be formed by
rotating a curved line around an axis.
A dome can be split up into two different directions; vertical sections separated by
longitudinal arch lines (also called meridians), and horizontal sections separated by
hoops or parallels.

STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR :
Similar to arches under a uniform loading the dome is under compression everywhere,
and the stresses act along the arch and hoop lines.

Forms of curvature
NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES (DOUBLY
CURVED) :

Anticlastic shells : are doubly curved but each of the

two curves have the opposite direction to the other.
E.G. Saddle points.
Conoids, hyperbolic paraboloid and hyperboloids are
all considered to the anticlastic shell because they are
saddled shape with different curvature in each direction
and straight lines can be drawn of the surface.
Conoids: formed by moving a one end of a straight line
along a curved path and the other along a straight path.
Hyperboloids: formed by rotating a straight line
around a vertical axis.

Forms of curvature
NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES (DOUBLY CURVED) :

Hyperbolic paraboloid:
Formed by sweeping a convex parabola along a concave parabola or by
sweeping a straight line over a straight path at one end and another
straight path not parallel to the first.
Structural behaviors:
Depending on the shape of the shell relative to the curvature, there will
be different stresses.
Shell roofs, have compression stresses following the convex curvature
and the tension stresses follow the concave curvature.

Forms of curvature
TENSION TIE :
Whenever the shells are supported vertically at their
edges, a tension tie is required around the perimeter at
the intersection of the dome and the wall.
However, it is important to note that the tie will be
funicular for any shape of either the plan or Elevation.
The support may be a continuous wall or stiff beams
between adequately spaced columns.
The thrusts are taken by shear forces through the width of
the shell, and only tension forces exist in the tie.

Forms of curvature
CYLINDRICAL BARREL VAULTS:
Barrel vaults are perhaps the most useful of the shell structures because they
can span upto 150 feet with a minimum of material. They are very efficient
structures because the use the arch form to reduce stresses and thicknesses in
the transverse direction.

Types of shell structures

DOMES OF REVOLUTION:

A dome is a space structure covering a

more or less square or circular area. The
best known example is the dome of
revolution, and it is one of the earliest
of the shell structures. Excellent
examples are still in existence that were
built in roman times. They are formed
by a surface generated by a curve of
any form revolving about a vertical
line. This surface has double curvature
and the resulting structure is much
stiffer and stronger than a single curved
surface, such as a cylindrical shell.
 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 centering 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 concerete has hardened the R.C.C membrane
or slab acts as a strong, rigid shell which serves as both structure and
covering to the building.

MOST SUITABLE MATERIAL

 Centering is the term used to describe the
necessary temporary support on which the
curved R.C.C shell structure is cast.
The centering of a barrel vault, which is part of
a cylinder with same curvature along its length;
is less complex. The centering of conoid, dome
and hyperboloid of revolution is more complex
due to additional labour and wasteful cutting of
materials to form support for shapes that are
not of uniform linear curvature.
The disadvantage of shell structure is their
cost. The shell structure is more expensive due
to considerable labour required to construct the
centering on which the shell is cast.

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

Construction of R.C.C. barrel vault

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
curvature.
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 width
of the vault as a multibay .

Construction of R.C.C. barrel vault

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 against weather.

Construction of R.C.C. barrel vault

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.

Construction of R.C.C. barrel vault

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 continuous 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.

Expansion joints and flashings

in reinforced concrete barrel
vaults expansion joints at
intervals of not more than 30
metres.
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 concave 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 providing insulation and maintaing the elegance of curved shape makes
these structures largely unsuited to heated buildings in temperate climate.
 Advantages Disadvantages
Very light form of construction.
To span 30.0 m shell thickness Shuttering problem
required is 60mm Greater accuracy in
Dead load can be reduced formwork is required
economizing foundation and Good labour and supervision
supporting system
necessary
They further take advantage of
the fact that arch shapes can Rise of roof may be a
span longer disadvantage
Flat shapes by choosing certain
arched shapes
Esthetically it looks good over
ADVANTAGES AND DIS-ADVANTAGES OF
other forms of construction

SHELLS: