CODE 122 2024

GROUP 1

SHELL STRUCTURES RE P O R T

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION 4 FORMS OF CURVATURE

2 TYPES OF SHELL STRUCTURES 5 TYPES

3 NOTEWORTHY EXAMPLES 6 MATERIALS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
7 TYPES OF BARREL VAULTS 10 DISADVANTAGES

8 CONSTRUCTION 11 EXAMPLES

9 ADVANTAGES OF SHELL STRUCTURES 12 APPLICATION

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INTRODUCTION
The shell structure is typically found in
nature as well as in classical architecture.
Its efficiency is based on its curvature
(single or double), which allows a multiplicity
of alternative stress paths and gives the
optimum form for transmission of many different
load types.

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INTRODUCTION
Various different types of steel shell structures have been used for industrial purposes;
singly curved shells, for example, can be found in oil storage tanks, the central part of
some pressure vessels, in storage structures such as silos, in industrial chimneys and
even in small structures like lighting columns. (Figures 1a to 1e).

The single curvature allows a very simple construction process and is very efficient in
resisting certain types of loads. In some cases, it is better to take advantage of
double curvature

Double-curved shells are used to build spherical gas reservoirs, roofs, vehicles, water
towers and even hanging roofs. (Figures 1f to 1i).

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INTRODUCTION
An important part of the design is the load transmission to the foundations. It must be
remembered that shells are very efficient in resisting distributed loads but are prone
to difficulties with concentrated loads. Thus, in general, a continuous support is
preferred.

If it is not possible to have a foundation bed, as shown in Figure 1a, an intermediate

structure such as a continuous ring (Figure 1f) can be used to distribute the
concentrated loads at the vertical supports.

On occasions, architectural reasons or practical considerations impose the use of

discrete supports.

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SHELL STRUCTURES

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SHELL STRUCTURES

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TYPES OF SHELL
STRUCTURES

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TYPES OF SHELL STRUCTURES

1.GEODESIC DOMES
2.BARREL VAULTS
3.SHELL ROOFS
4.FOLDED PLATE STRUCTURES
5.SHELL GRID STRUCTURES

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SHELL STRUCTURES

GEODESIC DOMES
•ARE STRUCTURES CHARACTERIZED BY A NETWORK
OF INTERLOCKING GEOMETRIC ELEMENTS THAT FORM
A SPHERICAL OR PARTIALLY SPHERICAL SHAPE.
THESE DOMES HAVE AN EXCELLENT STRENGTH-TO-
WEIGHT RATIO AND A GOOD ABILITY TO VAST
INTERIOR SPACES WITH MINIMAL QUANTITIES OF
MATERIALS.

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SHELL STRUCTURES

BARREL VAULTS
•ALSO KNOWN AS “TUNNEL VAULTS”, ARE CURVED
STRUCTURES CONSISTING OF A SERIES OF
PARALLEL ARCHES PLACED SIDE BY SIDE,
CREATING A CONTINUOUS, ELONGATED,
CYLINDRICAL SHELL SHAPE. THIS WAS PREVALENT
IN ANCIENT ROMAN ARCHITECTURE AND ARE STILL
USED TODAY. IN APPLICATIONS SUCH AS
TUNNELS, CATHEDRALS, AND LARGE – SPAN
ROOFS.
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SHELL ROOFS
•ENCOMPASSES A BROAD CATEGORY OF SHELL
STRUCTURES DESIGNED TO COVER LARGE AREAS
WITHOUT INTERNAL SUPPORT. THEY ARE
CHARACTERIZED BY CURVED, SINGLE-SURFACE
ROOFS THAT SPAN OVER VAST SPACES, PROVIDING
UNOBSTRUCTED VIEWS AND OPEN INTERIORS.

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SHELL STRUCTURES

FOLDED PLATE STRUCTURES

•FEATURES FLAT PLATES THAT ARE FOLDED OR
BENT ALONG PREDETERMINED LINES TO CREATE
SERIES OF INTERCONNECTED FACETS. THESE
FOLDED PLATE WORK TOGETHER TO FORM A
STRUCTURAL SYSTERM CAPABLE OF CARRYING
LOADS EFFICIENTLY.

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SHELL GRID STRUCTURES

•COMBINED THE PRINCIPLE OF SHELL AND
GRIDS, FORMING AN INTERCONNECTED NETWORKS
OF BEAMS OR ARCHES THAT CREATE A THREE-
DIMENSIONAL GRID PATTERN. THESE
STRUCTURES OFFER A BALANCE BETWEEN THE
BENEFITS OF SHELL STRUCTURES AND THE
REGULARITY OF GRID SYSTEMS.

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NOTEWORTHY EXAMPLES
OF SHELL STRUCTURES AROUND THE WORLD
1.SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, AUSTRALIA
designed by Danish architect JORN UTZON
NOTEWORTHY EXAMPLES
OF SHELL STRUCTURES AROUND THE WORLD
2. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ROMAN ART, SPAIN
designed by renowned architect RAFAEL MONEO
NOTEWORTHY EXAMPLES
OF SHELL STRUCTURES AROUND THE WORLD
3. MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
designed by distinguished architect SANTIAGO CALATRAVA
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FORMS OF CURVATURE
1.SINGLE CURVATURE SHELLS
2.DOUBLE CURVATURE SHELLS

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SHELL STRUCTURES

1. SINGLE CURVATURE SHELLS

ARE CURVED ON ONE LINEAR AXIS AND ARE A PART OF A CYLINDRICAL
CONE IN THE FORM OF BARELL VAULTS AND CONOID SHELLS.

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2. DOUBLE CURVATURE SHELLS

ARE EITHER A PART OF A SPHERE OR A HYPERBOLOID REVOLUTION.

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THE TERM SINGLE CURVATURE AND DOUBLE

CURVATURE DO NOT PROVIDE A PRECISE
GEOMETRICAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN A FORM
OF SHELL BECAUSE A BARREL VAULT IS A
SINGLE CURVATURE BUT A SINGLE DOME

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COMMON FORMS
1. ROTATIONAL SURFACES
2. TRANSITIONAL SURFACES
3. RULED SURFACES
4. DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
5. NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES

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1. ROTATIONAL SURFACES
GENERATED BY A ROTATION OF A CURVE ABOUT
AN AXIS
EXAMPLES: SPHERICAL, ELLIPTICAL, CONICAL,
AND PARABOLIC SURFACES

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2. TRANSITIONAL SURFACES
GENERATED BY SLIDING ONE PLANE CURVE OVER ANOTHER PLANE CURVE
ALONE ANOTHER PLANE CURVE, WHILE KEEPING THE ORIENTATION OF THE
SLIDING CURVE CONSTANT
EXAMPLES: SPHERICAL, ELLIPTICAL, CONICAL, AND PARABOLIC SURFACES

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3. RULED SURFACES
GENERATED BY SLIDING THE TWO ENDS OF A LINE SEGMENT ON TWO
INDIVIDUAL PLANE CURVES
EXAMPLES: CONOIDS AND HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID SURFACES

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4-5. DEVELOPABLE & NON-DEVELOPABLE

SURFACES
•SURFACES WITH DOUBLE CURVATURE CANNOT BE DEVELOPED, WHILE SINGLE
CURVATURE CAN BE DEVELOPED.

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4-5. DEVELOPABLE & NON-DEVELOPABLE

SURFACES
IN OTHER WORDS, SURFACES WITH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE GAUSSIAN CURVATURE
I.E. (SYNCLASTIC AND ANTICLASTIC SURFACES CANNOT BE DEVELOPED, WHILE THOSE
ZERO GAUSSIAN CURVATURE CAN BE DEVELOPED)

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4. DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
SINGLY CURVED
•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.

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4. DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
SINGLY CURVED - BARREL
ARCH ACTION AND BEAM ACTION TOGETHER
MAKE A BARREL.
THERE ARE MAINLY TWO KINDS OF BARREL:

LONG BARRELS, ARCH ACTION IS

PROMINENT;
SHORT BARRELS, BEAM ACTION IS
PROMINENT.

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4. DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
SINGLY CURVED - BARREL
STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF SHORT BARREL SHELLS
-THESE BARREL SHELLS ARE TYPICALLY SUPPORTED AT THE CORNERS
AND CAN BEHAVE IN ONE OR A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS.

STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF LONG BARREL SHELLS

- THIS IS TYPICALLY SUPPORTED AT THE CORNERS AND BEHAVE
STRUCTURALLY AS A LARGE BEAM.

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5. NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
DOUBLY CURVED
E.G. SPHERE OR HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID.

•THEY ARE MAINLY CLASSIFIED AS:

1. SYNCLASTIC
2. ANTICLASTIC

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5. NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
DOUBLY CURVED - SYNCLASTIC SHELLS
•ARE DOUBLY CURVED AND HAVE A SIMILAR CURVATURES IN EACH
DIRECTION E.G. DOMES

•A DOME CAN BE SPLIT UP IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS

VERTICAL SECTIONS SEPARATED BY LONGITUDINAL LINE ARCH (ALSO
CALLED MERIDIANS), AND HORIZONTAL SECTIONS SEPARATED BY
HOOPS OR PARALLELS.

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5. NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
DOUBLY CURVED - SYNCLASTIC SHELLS
STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR

- SIMILAR TO ARCHES UNDER A UNIFORM

LOADING THE DOME UNDER COMPRESSION
EVERYWHERE AND THE STRESSES ACT ALONG THE
ARCHES AND HOOP LINES.

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5. 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

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5. 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: FORMED BY MOVING A ONE END OF A STRAIGHT LINE

ALONG A CURVED PATH .

•HYPERBOLOIDS: FORMED BY ROTATING STRAIGHT LINE ARROUND

VERTICAL AXIS

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5. NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
DOUBLY CURVED - ANTICLASTIC SHELLS
•HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID: FORMED BY SWEEPING A
CONVEX PARABOLA ALONG A CONCAVE PARABOLA OR BY
SWEEPING A STRAIGHT PATH NOT PARALLEL TO
FIRST.

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5. NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
DOUBLY CURVED - ANTICLASTIC SHELLS
•STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOUR: DEPENDING ON THE SHAPE OF THE SHELL
RELATIVE TO THE CURVATURE, THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT STRESSES.
SHELL ROOF, HAVE COMPRESSION STRESSES FOLLOWING THE CONVEX
CURVATURE AND THE TENSION STRESSES FOLLOWING THE CONCAVE
CURVATURE.

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5. NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
DOUBLY CURVED - ANTICLASTIC SHELLS
Tension Tie:

FIG. (A) REPRESENTS A DOUBLY CURVED SHELL WITH NO AXIS OF

SYMMETRY, SHOWS A SPHERICAL DOME SUPPORTED ON A WALL.

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.

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5. NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
DOUBLY CURVED - ANTICLASTIC SHELLS
Tension Tie:

HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE TIE WILL BE

FUNICULAR FOR ANY SHAPE OF EITHER THE PLAN OR ELEVATION.

Fig. (A)

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5. NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
DOUBLY CURVED - ANTICLASTIC SHELLS
Tension Tie:

FIG. (B) THE SHELL HAS POSITIVE CURVATURE AND CONTINUOUS

VERTICAL SUPPORT.

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5. NON-DEVELOPABLE SURFACES
DOUBLY CURVED - ANTICLASTIC SHELLS
Tension Tie:

THE SUPPORT MAY BE A CONTINUOUS WALL OR STIFF BEAMS

BETWEEN ADEQUATELY SPACED COLUMNS.
IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE STRAIGHT PARTS OF THE TIE IN
FIG. (C) DO NOT REQUIRE TIES ACROSS THE BUILDING.
THE THRUSTS ARE TAKEN BY SHEAR FORCES THROUGH THE WIDTH
OF THE SHELL, AND ONLY TENSION FORCES EXIST IN THE TIE.
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MOST SUITABLE
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 CENTERING OR INSIDE FORMWORK. SMALL
SECTIONS OF REINFORCING BARS CAN READILY BE BENT TO
FOLLOW THE CURVATURE OF SHELLS.

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MOST SUITABLE
MATERIAL
CONCRETE IS THE MOST COMMONLY USED
MATERIAL BECAUSE OF ITS STRENGTH AND
AFFORDABILITY, WHEREAS STEEL PROVIDES
STRENGTH AND LIGHTNESS.

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MOST SUITABLE
MATERIAL
WOOD IS PREFERRED FOR ITS SUSTAINABLE
CHARACTER AND AESTHETIC APPEAL. SHELL
STRUCTURES ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR SLENDERNESS,
WHICH MAKES THEM LIGHTWEIGHT AND EFFICIENT,
AS WELL AS THEIR CURVATURE, WHICH ENSURES A
UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF THE LOAD

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MOST SUITABLE
MATERIAL REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE (RCC)
IS THE MOST WIDELY USED MATERIAL
FOR CONSTRUCTING SHELL
ARCHITECTURE BECAUSE OF ITS
EXCELLENT STRENGTH AND DURABILITY.
STEEL IS ALSO A PREFERRED MATERIAL
FOR SHELL ROOF AS IT IS
LIGHTWEIGHT, OFFERS VERSATILITY,
AND EASE OF ASSEMBLY.
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MOST SUITABLE
MATERIAL SHOTCRETE, CONCRETE APPLIED BY SPRAYING.
SHOTCRETE IS A MIXTURE OF AGGREGATE AND
PORTLAND CEMENT, CONVEYED BY COMPRESSED AIR
TO THE NOZZLE OF A SPRAY GUN, WHERE WATER
IS ADDED. THE WET MIXTURE IS THEN SPRAYED
IN PLACE AND MAY BE CARVED OR TROWELED
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. FOR STRUCTURAL USES,
SHOTCRETE IS USUALLY APPLIED OVER A
FRAMEWORK OF REINFORCING BARS AND STEEL
MESH.
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MOST SUITABLE
MATERIAL
ARCHITECTURAL GLASS IS DESIGNED TO BE
STRONGER AND MORE DURABLE THAN REGULAR
GLASS, AND IS OFTEN TREATED TO MAKE IT MORE
RESISTANT TO SCRATCHES, UV RAYS, AND OTHER
WEAR AND TEAR.

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MOST SUITABLE
MATERIAL
PLASTICS ARE A RELATIVELY NEW MATERIAL, BUT
THEY HAVE MANY POTENTIAL USES IN
ARCHITECTURE BECAUSE THEY ARE STRONG,
LIGHTWEIGHT, AND EASY TO FORM

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BARREL VAULT
THE MOST STRAIGHT FORWARD SINGLE CURVATURE SHELL
CONSTRUCTION

BARREL VAULTS ARE USED AS PARKING, MARKET PLACE, ASSEMBLY

HALL, ETC.

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TYPES OF BARREL VAULTS

1. SHORT SPAN BARREL VAULT
2. LONG SPAN BARREL VAULT

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SHORT SPAN BARREL VAULT

ARE THOSE IN WHICH SPAN IS SHORTER
THAN ITS WIDTH.

IT IS USED FOR THE WIDTH OF THE

ARCH RIBS BETWEEN THE BARREL VAULT
SPAN.

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LONG SPAN BARREL VAULT

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.

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LONG SPAN BARREL VAULT

THE USUAL SPAN OF THE LONGITUDINAL
BARREL VAULT IS FROM 12-30 METERS
WITH ITS WIDTH BEING ABOUT 1/2 THE
SPAN AND RISE IS 1/5 OF THE WIDTH.

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CONSTRUCTION OF R.C.C BARREL

VAULT
1. STIFFENING BEAMS AND ARCHES
2. EDGE AND VALLEY BEAMS
3. EXPANSION JOINTS
4. ROOF LIGHTS
5. ROOF COVERING
6. ROOF INSULATION

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CONSTRUCTION OF R.C.C BARREL VAULT

1. STIFFENING BEAMS AND ARCHES
TO STRENGTHEN THE SHELL AGAINST
THE POSSIBILITY OF THE BARREL
VAULT DISTORTING AND LOSING SHAPE,
AND EVEN COLLAPSING IF THE
RESULTANT STRESSES WERE MORE,
STIFFENING BEAMS OR ARCHES ARE CAST
INTEGRALLY WITH THE SHELL.

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CONSTRUCTION OF R.C.C BARREL VAULT

1. STIFFENING BEAMS AND ARCHES
DOWNSTAND STIFFENING RCC BEAM

ADVANTAGE: MOST EFFICIENT DUE

TO ITS DEPTH

DISADVANTAGE: INTERRUPTS THE

LINE OF SOFFT OF VAULTS

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CONSTRUCTION OF R.C.C BARREL VAULT

1. STIFFENING BEAMS AND ARCHES
UPSTAND STIFFENING BEAM
ADVANTAGE: DOESN’T INTERRUPTS
THE LINE OF SOFFIT OF VAULTS

DISADVANTAGE: IT BREAKS UP THE

LINE OF ROOF AND NEED
PROTECTION AGAINST WEATHER

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CONSTRUCTION OF R.C.C BARREL VAULT

2. EDGE AND VALLEY BEAMS
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.

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CONSTRUCTION OF R.C.C BARREL VAULT

2. EDGE AND VALLEY BEAMS

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CONSTRUCTION OF R.C.C BARREL VAULT

3. EXPANSION JOINTS
THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE CAUSES THE EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION
IN CONCRETE STRUCTURE, WHICH CAUSES THE STRUCTURES TO DEFORM OR
COLLAPSE.

TO LIMIT THIS CONTINUOUS EXPANSION JOINTS ARE FORMED AT THE

INTERVAL OF ABOUT 30 METERS, 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.

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CONSTRUCTION OF R.C.C BARREL VAULT

4. ROOF LIGHTS
TOP LIGHT CAN BE PROVIDED BY DECK LIGHT FORMED IN THE CROWN OR
BY DOME LIGHT. THE DECK LIGHT CAN BE CONTINUOUS OR FORMED AS
INDIVIDUAL LIGHTS.

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CONSTRUCTION OF R.C.C BARREL VAULT

4. ROOF LIGHTS
ADVANTAGE:
ITS CONCAVE SOFFIT REFLECTS AND HELPS TO DISPERSE LIGHT
OVER AREA BELOW.

DISADVANTAGE:
TOP LIGHT MAY CAUSE OVER HEATING AND GLARE.

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CONSTRUCTION OF R.C.C BARREL VAULT

4. ROOF COVERING
SHELLS MAY BE COVERED WITH NON-FERROUS SHEET METAL. ASPHALT,
BITUMEN FELT, A PLASTIC MEMBRANE OR A LIQUID RUBBER BASE
COATING.

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CONSTRUCTION OF R.C.C BARREL VAULT

4. ROOF INSULATION
DIFFICULTIES OF PROVIDING INSULATION MAKES THESE STRUCTURES
LARGELY UNSUITED TO HEATED BUILDINGS IN TEMPERATE CLIMATE.

THE MOST SATISFACTORY METHOD OF INSULATION IS TO SPREAD A

LIGHT WEIGHT SCREEN OVER THE SHELL.

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CONCRETE SHELL
5. ADVANTAGES
EFFICIENT USE OF MATERIALS
SHELL STRUCTURES ACHIEVE HIGH STRENGTH
WITH MINIMAL MATERIAL, MAKING THEM
COST-EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY.
LIGHTWEIGHT BUT STRONG
THE CURVED DESIGN ALLOWS FOR
EFFICIENT LOAD DISTRIBUTION,
RESULTING IN A HIGH STRENGTH TO
WEIGHT RATIO.
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CONCRETE SHELL
5. ADVANTAGES
AESTHETIC APPEAL
THE SLEEK AND ELEGANT SHAPES OF
SHELL STRUCTURES ARE VISUALLY
APPEALING, OFTEN USED IN ICONIC
ARCHITECTURE.

LARGE, OPEN SPACES

SHELLS CAN SPAN LARGE AREAS WITHOUT REQUIRING INTERNAL SUPPORTS,
MAKING THEM IDEAL FOR AUDITORIUMS, STADIUMS, AND HANGARS.

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CONCRETE SHELL
5. ADVANTAGES
DURABILITY
WHEN CONSTRUCTED PROPERLY, SHELL STRUCTURES CAN BE HIGHLY
DURABLE AND RESISTANT TO EXTERNAL FORCES LIKE WIND AND
EARTHQUAKES.

VERSATILITY
THEY CAN BE USED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES, INCLUDING DOMES, ROOFS,
WATER TANKS, AND INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES.

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CONCRETE SHELL
6. DISADVANTAGES
COMPLEX DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
DESIGNING A SHELL STRUCTURE
REQUIRES ADAVANCED ENGINEERING AND
ARCHITECTURAL EXPERTIES, AS THE
SHAPE IS CRITICAL TO ITS STRENGHT
AND DURABILITY.

ITS CONSTRUCTION DEMANDS PRECISE

TECHNIQUES AND SKILLED LABOR.
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CONCRETE SHELL
6. DISADVANTAGES
HIGH INITIAL COST DIFFICULTY IN REPAIRS

THE SPECIALIZED DESIGN AND DAMAGE TO THE SHELL CAN BE

CONSTRUCTION METHODS CAN CHALLENGING AND COSTLY TO
INCREASE INITIAL EXPENSES. REPAIR DUE TO THE CONTINUOUS,
INTEGRATED NATURE OF THE
STRUCTURE.

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CONCRETE SHELL
6. DISADVANTAGES
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES HIGH FORMWORK AND
SCAFFOLDING COSTS
EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS OR
UNEVEN SOIL SETTLEMENTS CAN THE CURVED SHAPES REQUIRE
CAUSE STRESS CONCENTRATIONS AND SPECIALIZED FORMWORK DURING
CAMAGE, PARTICULARLY IF THE CONSTRUCTION, WHICH CAN BE
STRUCTURE ISN’T ADEQUATELY EXPENSIVE AND TIME-CONSUMING.
REINFORCED.

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7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

BACARDÍ RUM
FACTORY
CUAUTITLÁN, MEXICO

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7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

FACTORY ROOF CONSISTS OF THREE ADJACENT HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID
GROINED VAULTS 4 CM. THICK AND 26 M. SQUARE IN PLAN WITH 2.5 M.
OVERHANGS ON EACH SIDE.

• BACARDÍ’S SHELL: NOT IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE FOOTINGS, BUT

INSTEAD EACH OF THE FOUR CORNERS IS SUPPORTED ON A LEG THAT
TRANSFERS THE LOADS FROM THE SHELLS TO THE FOOTINGS WHICH IN TURN
PLACE THE VERTICAL WEIGHT ON THE GROUND.

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7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

BACARDÍ RUM
FACTORY
CUAUTITLÁN, MEXICO

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7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

SANTIAGO CALATRAVA
L’HEMISFÈRIC
(PLANETARIUM)
VALENCIA, SPAIN

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7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

SANTIAGO CALATRAVA L’HEMISFÈRIC (PLANETARIUM)

L’HEMISFÈRIC, THE DISTINCTIVE EYE-SHAPED CONSTRUCTION DESIGNED

BY SANTIAGO 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.

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7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

SANTIAGO CALATRAVA L’HEMISFÈRIC (PLANETARIUM)

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

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7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

SANTIAGO CALATRAVA L’HEMISFÈRIC (PLANETARIUM)

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

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SHELL STRUCTURES

7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

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7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

THE STRUCTURE SPANS UP TO 164 FT.

THE ARCHES ARE SUPPORTED BY 350 KM OF TENSIONED STEEL CABLE
THE SHELL THICKNESS GOES FROM 3 TO 4 INCHES
ALL SHELLS WEIGHT A TOTAL OF 15 TONS.

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SHELL STRUCTURES

7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
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

IN MID 1961- THE DESIGN TEAM FOUND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM THE SHELLS ALL BEING
CREATED AS SECTIONS FROMA SPHERE. THIS SOLUTION ALLOWS ARCHES OF CARYING LENGTH
TO BE CAST IN A COMMON MOULD, AND A NUMBER OF ARCH SEGMENTS OF COMMON LENGTH TO
BE PLACED ADJACENT TO ONE ANOTHER TO FORM A SPHERICAL SECTION.

BSA 4 SET 1
SHELL STRUCTURES

7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

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SHELL STRUCTURES

7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

LA SAGRADA
FAMILIA
(BARCELONA
SPAIN)

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SHELL STRUCTURES

7. EXAMPLES AND APPLICATION

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA (BARCELONA SPAIN)

THE SHELL SERVES BOTH AESTHETIC AND FUNCTIONAL PURPOSES, MIMICKING NATURAL
FORMS LIKE WAVES OF BRANCHES. IT EFFICIENTLY DISTRIBUTED LOADS TO ENHANCE
STRUCTURAL STABILITY. GAUDE FACES ENGINEERING CHALLENGED DURING CONSTRUCTION,
EMPLOYING INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS.

ITS HYPERBOLOID FORMS MAKE IT AN ICONIC SYMBOL OF BARCELONA’S ARCHITECTURAL

HERITAGE.

BSA 4 SET 1