SHELL STRUCTURE

The word shell is an old one and is commonly used to

describe the hard covering of eggs, tortoises, etc. The
dictionary says that the word shell is derived from the
Latin scalus, as in fish scale.
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

DEFINITION

 Advantages:
Attraction of elegant simplicity of curved shell forms that
utilize the natural strength and stiffness of shell form with
great economy in the use of material. Continuity and
Curvature- The essential ingredients of a shell structure
Disadvantages:
More expensive than a part framed structure, cost of labor, the
construction of centering of shell is very high. While rigidity
and strength are in many cases desirable attributes of shell
structures, there are some important difficulties that can occur
precisely on account of unavoidable rigidity.
Materials:
Most suited: concrete, highly plastic with small section,
reinforcement bars to follow curvature of shells

Folded plate
Barrel vaults
Domes
Intersection shells

TYPES

 The elements of a folded plate structure are similar to

those of a barrel shell except that all elements are planar,
and the moments in the slab elements are affected by the
differential movement of the joints.
For the structure shown, the end supports and the side
supports are both complete walls

Folded Plates

The elements of a barrel shell are:

The cylinder,
The frame or ties at the ends, including the columns, and
The side elements, which may be a cylindrical element, a
folded plate element, columns, or all combined.

Barrel Shells

 Domes are membrane structures, the internal stresses are

tension and compression and are statically determinate if
the proper edge conditions are fulfilled.
In a dome of uniform thickness, under its own weight,
the ring stresses are compression until the angle to the
vertical is about 57 degrees..

Domes

 A translation shell is a dome set on four arches. The

shape is different from a spherical dome and is generated
by a vertical circle moving on another circle.
All vertical slices have the same radius. It is easier to
form than a spherical dome.

Translation Shells

 The surfaces that produce the shell appear to meet at an

intersection. Any of the basic types may be used in this
manner but the barrel shell is the most familiar and
useful.

Intersection Shells

LOTUS TEMPLE
-Shell Structure

Interior dome
Three ribs spring from the crown of each arch.
While the central one (the dome rib) rises radically towards the central
hub, the other two (the base ribs) move away from the central rib and
intersect with similar base ribs of adjacent arches, thus forming an
intricate pattern.
Other radial ribs rise from each of these intersections and all meet at the
centre of the dome.
Up to a certain height, the space between the ribs is covered by two
layers of 6Omm-thick shells.