STRUCTURAL CONCEPT IN ARCHITECTURE

An Overview
DOME
Module II
Construction of circular dome over a square configuration
Pendentives and Squinch Arches

(1) ABCD is a square area over which a dome is to be erected. If the diameter of the dome is
equal to one side of the square, the area will no be covered; if it is equal to the diagonal of
the square, the dome will project beyond the side.
(2) The latter diameter was sometimes used and the sides of the dome cut off vertically so that
the square was exactly covered but the result was an imperfect dome.
(3) To secure a perfect dome the Byzantine builders conceived the idea of slicing this imperfect
dome off horizontally just above the arches made by the vertical cutting, thus securing a
circular base upon which to erect a true dome.
The triangular segment of the original
dome are the Pendentives
A Squinch is a construction filling in the upper angles of a square room so as to form a base to
receive an octagonal or spherical dome.
SHELL STRUCTURE
Module II
SHELL DOME
 Structural Concept: Kresge Auditorium, MIT Boston, USA

• Thin shell structure of reinforced

concrete giving shell surface at
once simultaneous compression
and tension capability

• Preventing the splitting of the

surface into discrete arch like
segments.

• The one-eighth of sphere rising

height of 15 meter.

• Dome is sliced by curtain wall of

sheer glass supported only at 3
corners.
In spite of solid looking glazed side walls and a thickened edge beam, relative thickness
and remarkable spanning capabilities were example of modern concrete shell dome
structure.
 Structural Concept: Palazzetto dello Sport, Italy

Clear Span of 70m. Shallow-segment-of-a-sphere-dome. Receiving and countering the downward and
outward thrust of the dome are 36 radially arranged Y-shaped, vertically propped buttressing columns
whose inclination angle is based on radiating tangent lines coming off the dome surface.
Structural Concept: Palazzetto dello Sport, Italy
CONSTRUCTION:
• The coffered precast concrete panel were put in
position as formwork in preparation for the casting
of the dome.

• Careful placement adjacent to each other creating

open channel to between the panel sides into which
steel reinforcing bars could be placed.

• Cast in-place concrete was poured into these

channels and over the top of all coffers in order to
make a highly efficient thin-ribbed dome made of
both precast and cast in-place concrete.

• Exterior of concrete dome, with y-shaped buttresses

around perimeter to counter outward radial thrusts.
Structural Concept: Palazzetto dello Sport, Italy

INTERIOR:
• Ribbed interior of dome surface is in marked contrast
to its smooth outer layer, also traces innovative
construction methodology.

• Base of the dome surface disengaged from the

ground, allowing light to phenomenally “float”
structure.

• The openness of flying buttress like supporting

structure allows for the striking visual effect of the
free-floating dome, with admission of natural light
and lifting the roof up in the air.
FOLDED PLATES
Difference between dome shell and folded plate:
Representation of stiffness and load-carrying variations produced by spanning with

a. Flat sheet of card board

b. Folded such surface
c. Folded surface supplemented by transverse diaphragms
d. Depicts beam-like distribution of stresses acting in planes of folded surface.
Structural Concept:
YOKOHAMA TERMINAL, JAPAN

• Origami like folded surface made of steel

plates connected to hidden trusses.

• Folds provide strength and stiffness needed

to span internal space without columns while
supporting loads of occupiable rooftop
terrace for which project is perhaps most
widely recognized.
Structural Concept: YOKOHAMA TERMINAL, JAPAN
CYLINDRICAL SHELL
 Cylindrical shell Arched vault

Similar form but different structural behavior in terms of location of support, spanning
direction, load carrying mechanisms.
Structural Concept: Kimbell Art Museum, USA

Architect: Louis Kahn

End Support necessitate length-wise beam-like spanning of distinctively shaped shell roof.
The roof structure consist of a series of parallel concrete shells each having a cross-sectional
profile ------- CYCLOID
The shell must obviously make use of their full sectional depth in order to be a beam
in spanning 30 m distance between the rows of columns.
Structural Concept: Kimbell Art Museum, USA

There is cut in the keystone position all along the length in the top of the concrete shell. Hence
shell works as overall beam structure that span lengthwise from one column line to another.

Few ribs at the tops are provided to ensure connection between the two halves of the shell and
connection to prevent distortion.
Structural Concept: Lycee Albert Camus, France

Multiple transverse cylindrical shells roof over two parallel wings of high school
building, ends here seen protecting over column supports into central circulation spine
 HYPAR SHELL
STRUCTURAL SHELL SHAPE - HYPERPARABOLOID
Structural Concept:

• Hypar is a surface curved in two directions that can be designed as a shell.

• A Hypar is triangular, rectangular or rhomboid in plan with corners raised to the

elevation desired for the use and appearance.

• The edges of Hypars are typically restrained by stiff hollow beams that collect and
transfer roof loads to the foundation.
Structural Concept: Hypar shell, Cornell University Arboretum,
NY
 Structural Concept: Hypar shell, Cornell University Arboretum,
NY
A. Detailed depicting membrane stresses acting on
small element of hypar surface with hanging tensile B
stresses in upwardly curved direction and arching
compressive stresses in downwardly curved A
direction.

B. Anchoring of both sets of stresses at the edge of

shell surface indicate need for additional balancing
compression force along the edge in order to ensure
equilibrium.
Structural Concept: Indoor Tennis Centre, Heimberg,
Switzerland.

Logical experiment of hanging fabric into

geometrically complex but structurally efficient
tensile funicular surfaces, spraying or freezing these
into rigid forms and then inverting them into
correspondingly thin concrete compressive shell
forms, thus building up over the years an impressive
structures.

Hanging membrane solidifies ----- inverted and

adapted to various program and site conditions.
Structural Concept: Church Of Christ The Worker, Atlantida,
Uruguay

It not only experimented by geometry of shell forms but also with an innovative and quite
unexpected curvilinear shapes that seemingly soar above one’s head.

The beginning of Dieste’s of curving, long span, thin shells made of clay bricks (post-tensioned
together)
GRID SHELL
Structural Concept

• Opening up of the compressive membrane shell by concentrating membrane

stresses into force in relatively short, discrete, intersecting linear elements.

• The overall arrangement forms a tight mesh or grid thus leading to popular grid
shell.

• The possibilities of form variation ensuring that the forces acting on the structure
are mainly carried by in-plane membrane action.

• Material: typically steel but alternatively perhaps of wood, or other material.

Structural Concept: D Z BANK, BERLIN

Fluid profile variations of the glass-covered grid shell for the courtyard illustrates the need of
the system.