Thin-shell structure

A thin-shell structure is a type of construction that consists of a relatively small wall thickness, typically less than 2 cm, and is designed to distribute stress evenly. This type of structure is often made of reinforced concrete and is lightweight due to its minimal use of materials. Shell elements are commonly used in the analysis of thin-shell structures. An example of a thin-shell structure is a hemispherical head.From: Elastic–plastic buckling of externally pressurised hemispherical heads [2019], Commonly Asked Questions in Thermodynamics [2022]

Power Generation and Refrigeration

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Published in Marc J. Assael, Geoffrey C. Maitland, Thomas Maskow, Urs von Stockar, William A. Wakeham, Stefan Will, Commonly Asked Questions in Thermodynamics, 2022

Marc J. Assael, Geoffrey C. Maitland, Thomas Maskow, Urs von Stockar, William A. Wakeham, Stefan Will

There are also good civil engineering reasons (Reid 1984) for choosing the hyperboloid shape for large cooling towers. The bi-curved shape gives superior strength to the structure and resistance to external forces, particularly high winds. The towers have to be sufficiently tall to release the water vapor safely into the atmosphere and to give enough time and contact for air-water equilibrium to be reached, as described previously. In order to support such tall, heavy structures, the base must be consolidated and spread over a large area. Hence, the tower requires a large circular base. The stress distribution in the thin shell structure is such that a relatively small wall thickness is required, typically less than 2 cm, so requiring relatively small amounts of reinforced concrete and minimizing the weight of the structure. The wide base not only adds strength but also provides a large space for the installation of the water injection and cooling system.

Design and construction of long-span single-layer dome structures by direct analysis

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Published in HKIE Transactions, 2018

Y P Liu, S J Pan, Simon W K Leung, S L Chan

The Spectacle Roof can be regarded as a single-layer thin shell structure. The joint rigidity of roof nodes will significantly affect the behaviour of a long-span roof structure. As sliding bearings are used in the EW sides, a semi-rigid joint may lead to excessive deflection compared with a rigid joint. Hence, a rigid joint is preferred in this project to control deflections.

Thin-shell structure

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Power Generation and Refrigeration

Design and construction of long-span single-layer dome structures by direct analysis