SHELL

STRUCTURES

SUBHASH
KUMAR
B. Arch IV Yr
SHELLS ?
Thin-shell structures are also called plate and shell 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.
Shells can simply be defined as frames which encase a build form and bring in the
complete form of the structure. Shells are made of materials which have low
thickness and more flexibility so that the desired shape can be achieved.

Shell structures are majorly curved structures as they are majorly in compression
and sustain under the influence of supportive forces.
SHELLS AND ARBITRARY DOMES

Domes are characterized by a geometric form that that can be obtained by rotating
any curve around an axis (usually vertical). These cases are indicated with the term
‘domes of revolution’.

‘Arbitrary dome’ or shell indicates a spatial structure essentially subjected to

compression, whose thickness is limited with respect to the other dimensions. In other
words, it is a structure similar to a membrane, but under compression.
SINGLE CURVATURE SHELL DOUBLE CURVATURE SHELL

Curved on one linear axis and part Curved on two axes and generally a
of a cylinder or cone in the form of part of a sphere or hyperboloid of
barrel vaults and conoid shells. revolution.

No matter a shell is oriented on a single axis or two axis, the membrane of the
shell is always in compression and with-holds its shape with the help of forces
which cancel on its own.
DOWNWARD DOUBLE CURVATURE SHELLS

Shells take on the form of a dome when the

two main curvatures face downward. In
terms of functioning, this means that on a
surface of this type two different systems of
arches can develop, each capable of
absorbing part of the load.

With concrete, it has become possible to

construct very slender shells to cover
relatively large spans. The first examples
were marked by the presence of massive
edge girders. This functioned above all to
introduce the internal forces at the supports,
preventing instability. Another solution for
instability is to increase the thickness at the
edges and in the zone of the supports.
HYPER PALABOLOID CURVES

A hyper paraboloid is a shell which can have both upward or downward curve as
desired by the client. Only the material has to be selected wisely so that the
tension and compression forces are taken care of.

It is possible to make a roof by

arranging multiple hyperbolic
paraboloid side by side and joining
them at the corners. A classic
composition of this type involves the
composition of four identical elements
supported at the centre by a pillar. In
the four ribs that converge on the pillar
a compression zone is formed. At the
pillar the horizontal components of the
stresses in the four corners cancel each
other out, while the vertical
components are added together and
transmitted to the pillar.
MONKEY SADDLE SURFACES

Like groin vaults derived from the intersection of barrel vaults, monkey saddle
surfaces are obtained by intersecting hyperbolic paraboloids. It is possible to
keep the corners at the intersections, or to smooth them thus creating a
continuous surface.
CYLINDRICAL SHELLS

They have the same form as a barrel vault but unlike barrel vaults, they are
supported at just a few points. Arches are established in the upper part of the shell,
just as in vaults. However, these arches due to their free edges must transmit their
thrust to another carrying system, which acts lengthwise and transmits the load to
the supports.
GRIDSHELL STRUCTURES

Shells can be made of steel, plywood or synthetic materials. In this case, the shell is
usually composed of overlaid linear parts. Great stiffness and good stability can be
achieved by crossing three systems of arches.
THE BENDING THEORY OF SHELLS AND BUCKLING

For efficiency we want our shell to work primarily by membrane action, which is what
shell action means, but we know that we must also have bending stiffness to resist
buckling and inextensional deformation. Shell buckling is particularly nasty because shell
structures are so efficient. Almost no deflection occurs and then suddenly there is total collapse.
Paradoxically, the less efficient the shell, in terms of shape, triangulation of the surface and
boundary support, the better it behaves in buckling.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SHELLS

ADVANTAGES

• Very light form of construction. To span 30 m shell thickness required is 60 mm.

• Dead weight can be reduced economising foundation and support systems.
• Arched spans can be longer.

DISADVANTAGES

• Shuttering more difficult.

• Greater accuracy in formwork required
• Good labour and supervision necessary.
 Minimalism was the rallying cry at the University of
Chicago’swas
Minimalism new
the Mansueto
rallying cry atResearch Library.
the University of Chicago-based architecture firm Murphy/Jahn
Chicago’s new Mansueto Research Library.
buried the book stacks—enough for 3.5 million volumes—in a cavernous subterranean
Chicago-based architecture firm Murphy/Jahn buried
thevault
book and enclosed the
stacks—enough only
for 3.5 above-grade
million volumes—in level, which houses a reading room, circulation
desk, andsubterranean
a cavernous book care vaultfacility,
and in a glass-encased
enclosed the steel grid shell structure.
only above-grade level, which houses a reading
While the fritted glazing allows ample quantities of controlled natural light to flood the
room, circulation desk, and book care facility, in a
library during
glass-encased steelthe
grid day,
shell at night an electrical lighting scheme was required.
structure.
While the fritted glazing allows ample quantities of
controlled natural light to flood the library during the
day, at night an electrical lighting scheme was
required.
 Architect Helmut Jahn’s rendering of a cross-section of
the newJahn’s
Architect Helmut library building,
rendering showing
of athe automated storage
cross-section of the new library
and retrieval system (ASRS) underground and the glass
building, showing the ground
dome above automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS)
underground and the glass dome above ground
 • The elliptical glass dome structure,
designed by Helmut Jahn, has received
• Thecountless awards
elliptical glass domesince its completion
structure, in
designed by Helmut
2011.
Jahn, has received countless awards since its
completion in 2011.
• It features solar-control glass overhead, a
• It features solar-control glass overhead, a circular base
circular
that supports base that supports
the foundation theample
walls, and foundation
interior
walls,
space for and ample interior space for
studying.
studying.

• Height of the dome at the highest

• point:
Height of35thefeet
dome Length of Mansueto:
at the highest point: 35 feet
240 feet
Length of Mansueto: 240 feet
Width
Width ofof Mansueto:
Mansueto: 120 feet
120 feet
• Number of glass panels on Mansueto’s dome: 691
• • Number
Size of eachof glass
panel: panels on2 Mansueto’s
Approximately x 2 meters
dome: 691
• Size of each panel: Approximately 2 x 2
meters
In a world first, curved Cee purlins manufactured
from steel were used in conjunction with curved
structural steel and steel cladding to create the
distinctive domed shell of the Dunc Grey Velodrome
at Sydney.

Curved light steel purlins made from steel create the

Velodrome's distinctive shell-shaped roof structure.

In a world first, pairs of back-to back cold-formed

250mm deep CEE purlins were used to span the
11 meters from arch to arch.

"This is the largest and most innovative grid shell

structure ever built in Australia from steel.”

"The roof was assembled by lifting large sections into

place without any props in the middle of the
building.”

The shape of the striking form of the roof grew

from the geometry of the shell.
• It is covered by aluminum alloy coated steel roll formed into sheeting in specifically
tapered lengths of more than 24 meters.

• Glazed central skylights with light control louvres optimize natural lighting.

• A heat stack running 110 meters along the roof's entire length creates convection
to suck out hot air, which is replaced by cooler air entering underneath spectator
seating.

Looking north towards the main entrance. The free span,

single-layer, shell roof floats over the race track

Crosssection
The Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
• The thin shell’s curved geometry is optimized so that the amount of bending and
deflection experienced under non-uniform environmental and seismic loads is
minimized.
• The diagrid shell design has inherent structural redundancy and provides continuous
load paths to transfer both gravity loads and lateral loads to the base.
• The structural design for the roof employs long pieces of 14-in.-diameter, curved,
interlocking steel pipes that form the complex yet efficient structure’s diagrid shell.
• The design was developed to define the arches as a series of compound curves, which
made the steel easier to fabricate.
Gardens by the Bay is a project that has been awarded not only a Platinum rating in the
Green Mark For Parks scheme (Singaporean equivalent of LEED), but also a World Building of
the Year 2012 award at the World Architecture festival (WAF).

 Lightweight and flexible

No extra weight on building structure Adapts to external envelope curved
shapes
 Structural strength
Resists pressures exerted by the wind
 • Long-term dimensional stability
Allows unusually shaped blinds that adapt to complex structural geometry

• The superstructure of steel ribs is designed to address the lateral loads to the grid
shell, while also serving the purpose of enhancing the biomes’ organic appearance.
• The two structural systems are mutually supportive, with the two layers linked
by steel struts
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