Shell structures

Shell structures

are

light weight

constructions usingshell elements. These elements are

typically curved

andare assembled to

large structures

. Typical applicationsare fuselages of aeroplanes, boat hulls and roof structures in some buildings.A thin shell is defined as a shell with a thickness which issmall compared to its other dimensions and in whichdeformations are not large compared to thickness. A

primary difference

between a

shell structure

and a

plate structure

is that, in the

unstressed state

, the

shellstructure

has

curvature as opposed to plates structureswhich are flat

.Montréal Biosphere Buckminister filler,canadaMembrane action in a shell is primarily caused by in-plane forces (plane stress), though there may besecondary

forces resulting from flexural deformations

. Where a flat plate acts similar to a beam with bendingand shear stresses, shells are analogous to a cable which resists loads through tensile stresses. Though the idealthin shell must be capable of developing both tension and compression

Shell structure of the TWA Flight CenterBuilding by

Eero Saarinen

, John F. KennedyInternational Airport, New York

Nicholas Grimshaw, Eden Project, Cornwall, UK

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