Master Thesis: Pedro R. Munoz, PH.D., P.E., Archineer

MASTER THESIS
Architectural and Engineering Study of Thin Concrete Membrane Shells
Presented by:
Pedro R. Munoz, Ph.D., P.E., Archineer
Methuen, MA 01844 - USA
Date: March 21, 2018
Copyrights © 2018 by Pedro R. Munoz, Ph.D., P.E., All Rights Reserved

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Institute for Membrane and Shell Technologies e.V. Associated Institute of the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Germany
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
• CHAPTER 2 - LITERATURE REVIEW
• CHAPTER 3 -ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING

CONCEPTS OF MEMBRANE SHELLS
• CHAPTER 4 - FABRIC FORMED MEMBRANE SHELLS

IMS EXPERIMENTAL PROTOTYPE
• CHAPTER 5 - FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF

MEMBRANE-CONCRETE SHELL
• CHAPTER 6 – CONCLUSIONS
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IMS FABRIC FORMED CONCRETE SHELL
THREE HIGH POINTS

“Development of a method to harden mechanically
THREE LOW POINTS prestressed membrane structures by spraying with
concrete. Fabric used as reinforcement and as
HEIGHT = 4.4 m. permanent formwork”
DIAMETER = 6 m.
THICKNESS = 50 mm. By: Henning Duerr and Robert Off
IMS e.V. (Institute for Membrane and Shell
Technologies, Building and Real Estate)
Institute at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
he.duerr@ims-institute.org
robert.off@ims-institute.org
PLAN
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CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
NATURAL FORMS OF SHELLS
Oyster/Mussel Shell
Egg Skull
Turtle Marine/Sea Shell Sea-Rose of Amazonia

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CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
ANCIENT MAN-MADE FORMS OF SHELLS
A Qubab Dwelling in A rock-cut Tomb with a

a Syrian Village pointed shape; Sicily, Italy A Divine form in a A Domical Pointed
Syrian Temple Roman Cap
The Tomb of Agamemnon A Sun-dried Dome used as A masonry dome to cover Masonry rubble
Corbeled Mediterranean Dome an Ice house in Kerman, Iran Cisterns of water storage, Iran covers kiln in Mexico
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BASIC GEOMETRICAL CONICAL FORMS CHAPTER 1
Mathematical Equations
x2 + y2 = r2
Circle Ellipse Parabola Hyperbola

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SHELL STRUCTURES CHAPTER 1
CYLINDRICAL SPHERICAL HYPERBOLIC-PARABOLOID COMBINED SURFACES
• A THIN CURVED MEMBRANE OR PLATE SURFACE THAT SUPPORTS

EXTERNAL FORCES MAINLY BY: AXIAL COMPRESSIVE, TENSILE,
AND SHEAR STRESSES; R = Radius of Curvature, t = thickness
• BENDING IN THIN MEMBRANE SHELLS IS MOSTLY AVOIDED,

TO MINIMIZE THE THICKNESS AND WEIGHT OF THE FINAL SHELL
• COMMONLY USED SHELL MATERIALS INCLUDE:

CONCRETE, TIMBER-PLYWOOD, ALUMINUM, AND STEEL
• A THIN CONCRETE SHELL IS ONE WHERE TYPICALLY: 20 < R/t < 1000
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CURVATURE OF SHELLS CHAPTER 1
Architecture of Shells is Inspired by Geometrical Forms and Mathematics

Ancient Pyramids and Temples are testament of link of Architecture and Mathematics
SINGLE CURVATURE DOUBLE CURVATURE
Vaulted Conical Arch
Vaulted Cylindrical Arch

Hypar = Saddle Form
ANTICLASTIC SYNCLASTIC
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BASIC TYPES OF SHELL SURFACES CHAPTER 1
SURFACES OF TRANSLATION
PARABOLA ALONG A LINE PARABOLA ALONG AN ELLIPSE PARABOLA ALONG A PARABOLA
CYLINDRICAL PARABOLOID ELLIPTIC PARABOLOID HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID
ZERO GAUSSIAN POSITIVE GAUSSIAN NEGATIVE GAUSSIAN

NEUTRAL CURVATURE SYNCLASTIC CURVATURE ANTICLASTIC CURVATURE
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SURFACES OF REVOLUTION
CYLINDRICAL
CONICAL ELSPHERICAL
PARABOLIC HYPERBOLOID TOROIDAL

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SURFACES OF REVOLUTION
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HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID - HYPAR CHAPTER 1
DOUBLE CANTILEVER HYPARS
Bilinear Hypar Patch A doubly ruled hyperbolic paraboloid Hypar of Bamboo School in Bali, Indonesia
Waikikian Hotel, by G.J. Wimberly, 1960 Warsaw Ochota Railway Station, Warsaw, Poland, 1962
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HYPERBOLOID CHAPTER 1
Doubly ruled surfaces generated by two families of straight lines
Doubly ruled hyperbolic cooling towers for Didcot Power Station, UK Doubly ruled water tower toroidal tank, Poland
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CONOID CHAPTER 1
Ruled surface of linear segments connecting points of two curves
Experimental Conoid in San Bartolo, Mexico, by F. Candela, 1950 Gaudi’s School of Sagrada Familia, Spain
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CONOID CHAPTER 1
Reinforced Brickwork
Church of Christ the Worker, Atlantida, 1960, by E. Dieste

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CHAPTER 2 - LITERATURE REVIEW
EUROPEAN GERMAN SCHOOL
Franz Dischinger, German Civil Engineer; 1887-1953
A Pioneer Engineer, In 1922, designed the Zeiss Planetarium in Jena with Walther
Bauersfeld, using a thin-shell concrete roof in the shape of a hemisphere. Their system
was subsequently patented, and published a paper on the relevant mathematics in 1928.
Ulrich Finsterwalder, German Architect & Engineer; 1897-1988

First published formulas supporting barrel shell design in 1933. His Theory is called
the “Membrane Theory” used extensively in shell design, ignores bending in shells.
His Thesis subject: “Differential equations for the deflection of barrel shells”.
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LITERATURE REVIEW CHAPTER 2
EUROPEAN SWISS SCHOOL

Heinz Isler, Swizz Structural Engineer; 1926-2009
Engineer Notable and Famous for his thin concrete shells and innovative designs. Left a legacy of more than 1,000
elegant thin concrete shell forms all over Europe. The most notable are the roofs for a complex of sports halls and a
swimming pool at the Norwich Sports Village (1987-1991). Isler demonstrated three methods of shaping: through using
earth mounds, inflated rubber membranes, or hanging cloths.
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USA SCHOOL
Anton Tedesko, Born in Germany, Raised in Austria; 1903-1994
Attributed with much of the success of thin-shell concrete structures in the USA.
The first shell of the Z-D system built in the United States was Tedesko's design
for the 1934 Hayden Planetarium dome in New York (81 ft. diameter, 3 in thick).
The 1936 Hershey Arena roof in Pennsylvania (222 ft. span, 3.5 in thick) was the first short barrel shell
in the U.S. and represented a significant departure from German practice.
Anton Tedesko introduced the thin shell concrete roof construction to the United States and was
responsible for the design of over 60 shells during his career. His engineering design approach relied
on a balance of theory, experience with full-scale structures and close collaboration with contractors.
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USA SCHOOL
John “Jack” V. Christiansen, Born in Chicago, 1927- 2017
Jack’s work with thin-shell concrete brought him credit as one of the world’s top thin-shell
concrete designers, and numerous scholarly publications document his engineering
achievements. Used Hyperbolically Curved Concrete Shell sections in between stiffening rib arched beams.
The Kingdome, in Seattle, WA, 1976 at 661 ft. World’s Fair Shell Structures, Seattle, WA, USA
The largest clear span concrete dome in the world.
Demolished in March 26, 2000.
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USA SCHOOL
Eero Saarinen, A Finnish American Architect, 1910-1961
An architect and industrial designer of the 20th century famous for shaping his neofuturistic
style according to the demands of the project: simple, sweeping, arching structural curves
or machine-like rationalism.
The TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport in New York, 1962 St. Louis Arch, St. Louis, MO
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ITALIAN SCHOOL
Pier Luigi Nervi, Italian Engineer-Shell Designer, 1891-1979

He is widely known as a structural engineer and an architect, and for his innovative
use of reinforced concrete and his focus on Aesthetics.
Palazzo delle Esposizioni Master of Ferrocemento
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SPANISH SCHOOL
Eduardo Torroja, Spanish Architect-Engineer; 1891-1961
Notable as a pioneer in the design of concrete-shell structures.
Felix Candela, Architect-Engineer; 1910-1997

A student of Eduardo Torroja, Felix Candela, was born in Madrid and lived in Mexico.
Santiago Calatrava, Architect-Engineer; 1951-

A Spanish neofuturistic architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter.
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LATIN-AMERICAN SCHOOL
Eladio Dieste, Uruguayan Architect & Engineer; 1917-2000
A Uruguayan Engineer and Builder who spent his long career designing arched and
vaulted structures mainly made of reinforced concrete and reinforced brick masonry.
Hilario Candela, Cuban Born Architect; 1935-

A distant cousin of Felix Candela. Designed the Miami Marine Stadium completed 1963.
Educated at Georgia Tech, have practiced most of his life in the Miami area.
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Oscar Niemeyer, Brazilian Architect; 1907-2012
Is thought to be an important name in worldwide modern architecture. Was a pioneer
in using reinforced concrete for buildings which often have a lot of empty space,
Max Borges Jr., Cuban Architect; 1918-2009

Borges' style was highly influenced by his work with Spanish structural engineer Félix
Candela. Borges invited Candela to work with him in Cuba, and they both developed
extraordinary projects.
National Congress of Brazil, 1957-1964 Nautical Club of Havana, Cuba

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Eduardo Catalano, Argentinian Architect; 1917-2010
Inventive Argentinian architect and teacher whose work was eye-opening modern
A student of Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer, the Buenos Aires-born architect was
considered a modernist visionary whose massive concrete edifices attempted to
redefine the relationship between structure and space. Faculty of MIT up to 1977.
Hyperbolic Paraboloid - Hypar roofed house in Raleigh, North Carolina, Built in 1954. 4,000 sq. ft. – 87 ft. wide
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CHAPTER 3
BASIC ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING CONCEPTS

OF MEMBRANE SHELLS
FORM – FUNCTION – FORCES

THE KEY IN LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN
RELY ON REMOVING WEIGHT NOT STRENGHT
“The resistant virtues of the structure that we make depend on

their form; it is through their form that they are stable and not
because of an awkward accumulation of materials. There is
nothing more noble and elegant from an intellectual viewpoint
that this; resistance through form”.
By: Eladio Dieste, Uruguayan Architect Engineer, 1917-2000
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TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION CHAPTER 3
“The resistant virtues of the structure that we make depend on their form; it is through
their form that they are stable and not because of an awkward accumulation of materials.
There is nothing more noble and elegant from an intellectual viewpoint that this; resistance
through form”. By: Eladio Dieste, Uruguayan Architect Engineer, 1917-200.
𝑦2 𝑥2
𝑧 = 𝑐. 2 − 2
𝑏 𝑎
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HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOIDS - HYPAR FORMS CHAPTER 3
1. SADDLE VAULT
ISOMETRIC
Cosmic Rays Laboratory, Mexico, 1951 – by F. Candela
PLAN SECTION AERIAL VIEW

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2. GROIN VAULTS
TWO CURVED HYPARS INTERSECTED
ISOMETRIC
Bacardi Rum Factory, Puerto Rico, 1960 – by Candela

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3. GROIN VAULTS
THREE CURVED HYPARS INTERSECTED
Botanical Garden, Oslo, Norway, 1962 – by: F. Candela
PLAN
SECTION AERIAL VIEW

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4. POLAR ARRAY OF GROINED VAULTS
ISOMETRIC
Los Manantiales, Xochimilco, Mexico, , 1958 – by F. Candela

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5. FREE STANDING INVERTED UMBRELLAS
ISOMETRIC
Warm Mineral Springs Inn Motel, North Port, FL, 1958– by Candela
“Today Demolished”

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CONOIDS CHAPTER 3
6. CONOID
ISOMETRIC
Experimental Conoid, Mexico City, 1950 – by Candela

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7. INTERSECTING GABLED SHELLS
ISOMETRIC
Denver Courthouse Square, Denver, CO, 1958 – by: A. Tedesko

“Demolished in 1996”

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8. DOUBLE CANTILEVERS
ISOMETRIC
El Altillo Chapel, Mexico City, 1963 – by: F. Candela

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9. HYPERBOLOIDS
AERIAL VIEW
ISOMETRIC
PLAN ELEVATIONS Cooling Towers, Europe

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ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND DESIGN CHAPTER 3
p = EXTERNAL PRESSURE
t = thickness = h
s
s
r = Radius of Curvature
HEMISPHERICAL SHELL SYNCLASTIC CURVATURE – r x (+) and r y (+)

SYNCLASTIC CURVATURE
ANTICLASTIC CURVATURE – r x (+) and r y (-)
s = Membrane Stresses = p. (r/t)
20 < (r/t) < 1000
MEMBRANE THEORY FOR SHELLS ANTICLASTIC CURVATURE

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ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF SHELLS CHAPTER 3
Nx, Ny = Axial Tensile or Compressive Stresses in the x and y axes of the shell element.
Qx, Qy = Shear Bending Stresses in the faces perpendicular to x and y axis of the shell element.
Mx, My = Bending Moments along the x and y axes of the shell element.
Nxy, Nyx = Shear Torsional Stresses in the faces perpendicular to x and y axis of the shell element.
Mxy, Myx = Torsional Moments along the x and y axes of the shell element.
rx, ry = Radius of Curvature of the curvilinear surface with respect to x and y axis of the shell element.
For a shell structure acceptable and stable solution:
Partial differential equations shall be resolved to satisfy the following conditions:
1. Equilibrium of forces in x, y, and z directions shall be satisfied for all nodes.
2. Compatibility of deformations shall be satisfied throughout the entire shell surface.
3. Support Reactions shall be compatible with the boundary conditions at the supports.
4. Material Properties of shell elements stress-strain curves in tension and compression.
5. Shell Thickness shall be adequate to avoid local and global buckling.

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ANALYSIS OF SHELLS CHAPTER 3
METHODS TO RESOLVE MEMBRANE STRESSES AND INTERNAL SHELL FORCES
A. MEMBRANE AND BENDING THEORY – SPECIFIC SHELL CONFIGURATIONS.

MATHEMATICAL CLOSED FORMED SOLUTIONS  DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS.
B. THEORY OF PLATES AND SHELLS, ELASTIC STABILITY, THEORY OF ELASTICITY.
C. TABULATED SOLUTIONS OF SPECIFIC SHELL CASES FROM ASCE, ACI, AND PCA.
D. SPECIAL PURPOSE COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR SPECIFIC SHELL CASES.
E. 2D AND 3D GRAPHICAL METHODS.
F. ACI STRUT AND TIE MODEL, ACI 318-14, CHAPTER 23.
G. FLEXIBILITY AND STIFFNESS MATRIX STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS METHODS.
H. SIMPLIFIED SOLUTIONS USING COMBINATIONS OF SOME TYPE OF DERIVED

ANALOGIES OF BASIC FORMS TO OBTAIN REASONABLE APPROXIMAE SOLUTIONS.
WILL NEED TESTS TO VALIDATE RESULTS.
I. FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS METHODS TO SOLVE ANY TYPE OF SHELL

CONFIGURATION OF SURFACE, BOUNDARY, AND SUPPORT CONDITIONS.
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DESIGN OF SHELLS CHAPTER 3
1. ACI 318-14 – CHAPTERS 19 & 23

CHAPTER 19 - SHELLS AND FOLDED PLATE MEMBERS
CHAPTER 23 – STRUT AND TIE MODEL
2. EUROCODE 2
DESIGN OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES
3. IASS – INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SHELL STRUCTURES

WORKING GROUP 5 – CONCRETE SHELL ROOFS
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANALYSIS AND DESIGN.
4. INDIAN STANDARDS INSTITUTION (ISI)

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
5. JAPAN CONCRETE INSTITUTE (JCI)

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SEMISPHERICAL SYNCLASTIC SHELLS CHAPTER 3
DEFLECTION OF SPHERICAL SHELLS
Shallow Dome completely in compression
Buckling of Half Dome at lower bottom
Local Bending and Buckling at high concentrated loads
Continuously Supported at Base Supported by Columns at Base

MEMBRANE STRESSES FOR UNIFORM LOADING
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SEMISPHERICAL SYNCLASTIC SHELLS CHAPTER 3
SADDLE SHAPE ANTICLASTIC CURVATURE: r x (+) and r y (-)
RADIUS OF CURVATURE – CIRCLE ; PARABOLA ; CATENARY
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CIRCLE AND PARABOLA CHAPTER 3
GEOMETRICAL RELATIONSHIPS
x2 + y2 = r2
Circle Parabola
R = Radius p = focal length
p = Focal Length of the Parabola

The radius of curvature of the parabola at the vertex is twice the focal length p ; R = 2.p
The width of the parabola c at top of circle is four times the Radius of Circle ; c = 4.p
The height of the parabola d at center of circle is twice the Radius of Circle ; d = 2.R
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LENGTH OF PARABOLIC CURVE CHAPTER 3
𝑠
𝑛=
𝐿
8 8 2 32 4 128 6 512 8
𝑙𝑝 = 𝐿 . 1 + . 𝛼. 𝑛2 𝑙𝑝 = 𝐿 . 1 + .𝑛 − .𝑛 + .𝑛 − .𝑛
3 3 5 7 9
𝑎=s 1 𝑏2 4𝑎 + 𝑏2 +16𝑎2
𝑙𝑝 = . 𝑏2 + 16. 𝑎 2 + . ln
𝑏=𝐿 2 8𝑎 𝑏
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PARAMETRIC LENGTH OF PARABOLA CHAPTER 3
𝑠 8
𝑛= 𝑙𝑝 = 𝐿 . 1 + . 𝛼. 𝑛2
𝐿 3
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GRAPHICS STATICS CHAPTER 3
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TRUSS ANALOGY METHOD – TAM CHAPTER 3
A new Method proposed by the Author consists in modeling a 2D or a 3D planar or curvilinear surface as a
grid or mesh of intersecting lines that will form a 2D or 3D truss composed of members that will act mainly
either in Tension (ties) or Compression (struts), and will follow the curves or lines of principal stresses of
a planar or curvilinear surface under external forces which will be distributed over the member surface
mainly in the form of membrane stresses where the principal stresses are located the shear stresses are zero.
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ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING
CHAPTER 3
SHELL PROJECTS
MIT KRESGE AUDITORIUM
Cambridge, MA-USA
Eero Saarinen & Associates, Architects – Ammann & Whitney – 1955 ; Cambridge, MA – USA ; R = 112 ft., t = 3.5” – R/t = 384
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GREEK ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX CHURCH
Milwaukee, WI, USA CHAPTER 3
Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect – 1956 ; Milwaukee, WI – USA ; R = 197 ft., t = 3.5” – R/t = 675
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SUNDOME MULTIPURPOSE STADIUM Yakima,
WA, USA CHAPTER 3
Loofburrow Architects ; J. Christiansen Engineers – 1990 ; Yakima, WA – USA ; R = 248 ft., t = 3.75” – R/t = 794
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CYLINDRICAL VAULTED SHELLS CHAPTER 3
SHORT VAULTED SHELLS LONG VAULTED SHELLS
END ARCHES END BEAMS END WALLS
depth/Span ~ 6 to 10
thickness by Code
C and T stresses
are Perpendicular
C
ENDS TIED TO ABSORB THRUST AND MAINTAIN FORM T
SUPPORT CONDITIONS OF VAULTED SHELLS STRESS DIAGRAM
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KIMBELL MUSEUM
Forth Worth, TX, USA CHAPTER 3
Louis I. Kahn, Architect ; A. Komendandt, Structural Engineer – 1972 ; Forth Worth, TX – USA
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ANTICLASTIC SHELLS - Conoids CHAPTER 3
Surface Generation of a Conoid

Experimental Roof Shell in San Bartolo, Mexico, 1950
Lecheria Ceimsa Loading Dock, by Candela & Recamier, Mexico 1952 Entrance to a Factory, Mexico, 1950
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ANTICLASTIC SHELLS – Hyperbolic Paraboloids CHAPTER 3
Surface Generation for Four Straight Sides – Double Cantilever

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Hyperbolic-Paraboloid Shell in USA CHAPTER 3
Designed by: Louis A. Scibelli and Daniel F. Tulley, 1959-1960

Tully International Inc. www.tullyinternational.com
Pouring of the Concrete Roof was completed in One Day
Rendering from James Hundt, Architect – www.jameshundt.com Photo by: Pedro R. Munoz, March 12, 2015
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St. Athanasius Church, Reading, MA Designed in 1959 completed in 1960

Was then the largest concrete thin shell (3”) Hyperbolic Paraboloid in the
Western Hemisphere. A rhombus in plan ~120’ x 155’, Seating 800 people
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CHAPTER 3
Hyperbolic-Paraboloid Shell in USA
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Forming a Groined Vaulted Shell from two Hypars
Los Manantiales Restaurant, by Candela & Ordoñez , Xochimilco, Mexico 1958 – Octagonal Groin Vault - Four intersecting hypars
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Los Manantiales of F. Candela, Mexico
19 ft.
L’Oceanografic by S. Calatrava and F. Candela, Valencia, Spain

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Side 1 perpendicular to Side 2
By: Felix Candela, “General Formulas for Membrane Stresses in

Hyperbolic Paraboloidical Shells”, Journal of ACI, October 1960.
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SURFACE GENERATION WITHIN THREE PARABOLIC

CURVES USING STRAIGHT LINES
By: Felix Candela, “General Formulas for Membrane Stresses in

Hyperbolic Paraboloidical Shells”, Journal of ACI, October 1960.
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LOS MANANTIALES CAD Model CHAPTER 3
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HYPAR DOME/GABLE SHELLS
FREE-STANDING HYPAR
INVERTED UMBRELLA SHELLS
FOUR HYPARS WITH CENTER COLUMN
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14.4 ft. SQUARE, 2” THICK INVERTED UMBRELLA SHELL
Warm Mineral Springs Inn Motel, by V. Lundy. Architect & D. Sawyer, Engineer , North Port, FL 1958 –Inverted Hypar Umbrella
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Shell
FREE-STANDING HYPAR
INVERTED UMBRELLA SHELLS
FOUR HYPARS WITH CENTER COLUMN
Coyoacan Market , Coyoacan, Mexico, 1955

by F. Candela. Architect and Engineer
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HYPAR DOME/GABLE SHELLS
Herdez Plant, by F. Candela, Architect & Engineer, Mexico 1958 – Hyperbolic Paraboloid Tied Gable-Dome
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ANTICLASTIC SHELLS - Hyperboloids CHAPTER 3
Thickness varies from 2” (50 mm.) to 5.5” (137 mm.)
A full-scale prototype was built and tested until failure – 3 times stronger
Zarzuela Hippodrome, by E. Torroja, Architect & Engineer , Madrid, Spain, 1935 – Cantilever Hyperboloid Umbrella Shell
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ANTICLASTIC SHELLS - Hyperboloids CHAPTER 3
160 ft. (49 m.), 3” thickness reinforced concrete Hyperboloid Shell
McDonnell Planetarium, by HOK Architects & A. Alper Struct. Engineer, St. Louis, MO, USA, 1963 – Hyperboloid Shell
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IRREGULAR FREE FORM SHELLS CHAPTER 3
TWA Terminal at JFK Airport, by E. Saarinen, Architect, Ammann & Whitney, Engineer , NY 1962, Four Irregular Concrete Shells
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1er Seminario Internacional de Arquitectura Textil de IMS e.V. en Latinoamerica – Febrero 17-19 de 2016 – Ciudad de Panama, PANAMA
1st International Seminar of Textile Architecture of IMS e.V. in Latin America – February 17-19 of 2016 – Panama City, PANAMA
ISLER AND CANDELA SHELLS CHAPTER 3
“The ability of shells to resist tension as well as compression,

allows for much greater freedom of form”
by: Fuller Moore, Understanding Structures, 1992
ISLER SHELLS CANDELA SHELLS

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HEINZ ISLER SHELLS CHAPTER 3
“The model has an answer to nearly everything” – by: Heinz Isler
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ISLER SHELLS CHAPTER 3
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Wyss Garden Center, Solo Thurn, Switzerland, 1961 Indoor Tennis Center, Heimberg, Switzerland, 1979
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Sicli Company Building, Geneva, Switzerland, Switzerland, 1969

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CANDELA SHELLS CHAPTER 3
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CHAPTER 3
CANDELA SHELLS
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HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID
INVERTED UMBRELLA SHELL
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THREE CURVED HYPARS INTERSECTED – TRIPLE CANTILEVER
Botanical Gardens in Oslo, Norway, 1962, by Felix Candela
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FABRIC FORMED MEMBRANE-CONCRETE SHELL CHAPTER 4
PAST WORK AND IMS EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
Fabric Formed Beams, by Mark West Pneumatically formed concrete shell, Patented by W. Neff, 1941
Curvilinear Wave, Hyperbolic and Gaussian Shell Fabric-Formed Concrete experimental prototypes
University of Edinburgh
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HYBRID THIN REINFORCED CONCRETE SHELL SCULPTURE CHAPTER 4
TailorCrete Project, “Demonstrator“, Danish Technological Institute (DTI), Steel Rebars and Robotic Generated Formwork
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FABRIC FORMED FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE SHELLS CHAPTER 4
Textile Fibre Reinforced Concrete – “TFRC”, Textile fabric reinforcement and Bending of Textile Reinforced Plate.
Thin Shell Composite Hyperbolic Paraboloid Roof, TSC Hypar, built for African Nations
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IMS FABRIC FORMED MEMBRANE-CONCRETE SHELL CHAPTER 4
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FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
OF MEMBRANE-CONCRETE SHELL PROTOTYPE
CHAPTER 5
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CONCLUSIONS
1. REVIVAL INTEREST IN THIN CONCRETE SHELLS CAN

LEAD TO MORE SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT DESIGNS
2. OPTIMIZATION OF SHELL DESIGNS TO ALLOW FOR MORE

REDUCTION IN TOTAL WEIGHT OF STRUCTURE AND ALLOW
FOR MORE OPEN SECTION IN THE SHELL SURFACE
3. AVAILABILITY OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AS 3D PRINTING

MAY ALLOW TO EXPLORE FOR MORE EFFICIENT AND
ECONOMICAL ORGANIC FORMS
4. COMPLEXITY OF THE MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF

SHELLS CAN NOT BE AN OBSTACLE TO LIMIT THE USE OF
THEM AS A VIABLE AND SUITABLE DESIGN SOLUTION
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CONCLUSIONS
5. SHELLS MAY BE A SUITABLE SOLUTION FOR LOW-COST

HOUSING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES USING THE
APPROPRIATE LOCAL MATERIALS AND LABOR FORCE.
6. DIVERSE APPLICATIONS OF SHELLS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED

IN AREAS OF SEISMIC PRONE REGIONS FOR MORE
PERMANENT SHELTER SOLUTIONS USING ADAPTABLE
FABRIC FORMED SHELLS.
7. INNOVATIVE REINFORCED CONCRETE SHELL DOMES CAN

BE USED FOR MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PROTECTION
PURPOSES IN AREAS SUBJECT TO BOMBINGS.
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REFERENCES
1. Duerr, H., and Off, R.; “From Membrane Form to Rigid Shell”, Tensinews NR. 27, September 2014.
2. Billington, D.P.; “Thin Shell Concrete Structures”, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, NY 1982.
3. Brown, N.; “Form, Use, and Sustainability: A Geometric and Structural Feasibility Study of Hypar
Shells”, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, 2012.
4. Candela, F.; “General Formulas for Membrane Stresses in Hyperbolic Paraboloidical Shells”,
Journal of the American Concrete Institute, October 1960.
5. Allen, E.; “Form and Forces, Designing Efficient, Expressive Structures”, John Wiley & Sons, 2010.
6. Moore, F.; “Understanding Structures”, McGraw-Hill Co., NY, 1999,
7. Ekkehard R. and Eberhard S.; “Heinz Isler, Schalen”, Die Deutsche Bibliothek, 2002.
8. Timoshenko, S.P., and Gere, J.M.; “Theory of Elastic Stability”, McGraw-Hill, 2nd Edition, 1961.
9. Timoshenko, S.P., and Woinowsky, S.; “Theory of Plates and Shells”, McGraw-Hill, 2nd Ed. 1959.
10. Brush, D.O., and Almroth, B.O.; “Buckling of Bars, Plates, and Shells”, McGraw-Hill, 1975.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REFERENCES
11. ACI 318-14, “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-14) and
Commentary”; An ACI Standard, American Concrete Institute, 2014.
12. ACI Committee 334, “Concrete Shell Structures – Practice and Commentary (ACI 334.1R-92)
(Reapproved 2002),”; American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 1992, 10 pp.
13. ACI Report SP-28, “Concrete Thin Shells,”; American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI,
1971, 424 pp.
14. ACI Report SP-110, “Hyperbolic Paraboloid Shells,”; American Concrete Institute, Farmington
Hills, MI, 1988, 184 pp.
15. ACI Report SP-67, “Concrete Shell Buckling,”; American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills,
MI, 1981, 234 pp.
16. IASS Working Group No. 5, “Recommendations for Reinforced Concrete Shells and Folded
Plates,”; International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures, Madrid, Spain, 1979, 66 pp.
17. Tedesko, A., “Construction Aspects of Thin Shell Structures,”; ACI Journal, Proceedings V.49,
No. 6, Feb. 1953, pp. 505-520.
18. Adriaenssens, S, et. al., “Shell Structures for Architecture – Form Finding and Optimization,”;
Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, New York, 2014.
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QUESTIONS ???
THANK YOU !!!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fabric Formed Membrane-Concrete Shell
Future Research

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MODULAR MEMBRANE-CONCRETE SHELL FUTURE PROTOTYPE

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Master Thesis: Pedro R. Munoz, PH.D., P.E., Archineer

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Master Thesis: Pedro R. Munoz, PH.D., P.E., Archineer

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MASTER THESIS

Architectural and Engineering Study of Thin Concrete Membrane Shells

Copyrights © 2018 by Pedro R. Munoz, Ph.D., P.E., All Rights Reserved

• CHAPTER 2 - LITERATURE REVIEW

• CHAPTER 3 -ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING

• CHAPTER 4 - FABRIC FORMED MEMBRANE SHELLS

• CHAPTER 5 - FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF

THREE HIGH POINTS

Turtle Marine/Sea Shell Sea-Rose of Amazonia

A Qubab Dwelling in A rock-cut Tomb with a

Circle Ellipse Parabola Hyperbola

CYLINDRICAL SPHERICAL HYPERBOLIC-PARABOLOID COMBINED SURFACES

• A THIN CURVED MEMBRANE OR PLATE SURFACE THAT SUPPORTS

• BENDING IN THIN MEMBRANE SHELLS IS MOSTLY AVOIDED,

• COMMONLY USED SHELL MATERIALS INCLUDE:

Architecture of Shells is Inspired by Geometrical Forms and Mathematics

SINGLE CURVATURE DOUBLE CURVATURE

Vaulted Conical Arch

Vaulted Cylindrical Arch

CYLINDRICAL PARABOLOID ELLIPTIC PARABOLOID HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID

ZERO GAUSSIAN POSITIVE GAUSSIAN NEGATIVE GAUSSIAN

PARABOLIC HYPERBOLOID TOROIDAL

Doubly ruled surfaces generated by two families of straight lines

Ruled surface of linear segments connecting points of two curves

Church of Christ the Worker, Atlantida, 1960, by E. Dieste

Ulrich Finsterwalder, German Architect & Engineer; 1897-1988

EUROPEAN SWISS SCHOOL

Pier Luigi Nervi, Italian Engineer-Shell Designer, 1891-1979

Felix Candela, Architect-Engineer; 1910-1997

Santiago Calatrava, Architect-Engineer; 1951-

Hilario Candela, Cuban Born Architect; 1935-

Max Borges Jr., Cuban Architect; 1918-2009

National Congress of Brazil, 1957-1964 Nautical Club of Havana, Cuba

BASIC ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING CONCEPTS

FORM – FUNCTION – FORCES

“The resistant virtues of the structure that we make depend on

Cosmic Rays Laboratory, Mexico, 1951 – by F. Candela

PLAN SECTION AERIAL VIEW

Bacardi Rum Factory, Puerto Rico, 1960 – by Candela

PLAN SECTION AERIAL VIEW

Botanical Garden, Oslo, Norway, 1962 – by: F. Candela

SECTION AERIAL VIEW

4. POLAR ARRAY OF GROINED VAULTS

Los Manantiales, Xochimilco, Mexico, , 1958 – by F. Candela

PLAN SECTION AERIAL VIEW

5. FREE STANDING INVERTED UMBRELLAS

PLAN SECTION AERIAL VIEW

PLAN SECTION AERIAL VIEW

7. INTERSECTING GABLED SHELLS

Denver Courthouse Square, Denver, CO, 1958 – by: A. Tedesko

PLAN SECTION AERIAL VIEW

El Altillo Chapel, Mexico City, 1963 – by: F. Candela

PLAN SECTION AERIAL VIEW

PLAN ELEVATIONS Cooling Towers, Europe

HEMISPHERICAL SHELL SYNCLASTIC CURVATURE – r x (+) and r y (+)

20 < (r/t) < 1000

MEMBRANE THEORY FOR SHELLS ANTICLASTIC CURVATURE

For a shell structure acceptable and stable solution:

Partial differential equations shall be resolved to satisfy the following conditions:

1. Equilibrium of forces in x, y, and z directions shall be satisfied for all nodes.

2. Compatibility of deformations shall be satisfied throughout the entire shell surface.

4. Material Properties of shell elements stress-strain curves in tension and compression.

5. Shell Thickness shall be adequate to avoid local and global buckling.