Shells Roofs

Shell roof can be explained as a curved surface, the thickness is small compared to the other dimensions. Lot of load is transferred in these roofs by membrane compression rather than bending as in the case of conventional slab and beam constructions. Caves have natural shell roofs. A survey of places of worships built in India, Islamic and Europe nations show that for the last 800 to 1000 years shell structures were in usage. Yet the shells of middle ages were massive masonry structures but today to cover large column free areas thin R.C.C. shell roofs are built. Given figure shows commonly used shell roofs.

                                                  Types of shell roof