Oguni Dome, Jepang

BARREL SHELLS
First find the longitudinal and shear (diagonal tension) reinforcing required for a
typical interior element of the structure.
1. A barrel shells acts as a beam in the long direction and as an arch in the curved
area. The arch is supported by internal shears. Approximate values for the bending
moments in the arch are summarized in the following sketch.

2. The area of reinforcing is obtained by estimating the effective depth of the beam
element, from the center of reinforcing to the center of compression. The force in the
reinforcing is equal to the bending moment divided by the effective depth. It may
require several approximations to get a fair value. The area of reinforcing is, of
course, the force divided by the allowable stress.

3. The tension in the diagonal direction is determined first by equating the
longitudinal force to the shear forces.

4. The sum of the shearing forces equals the longitudinal forces. Let S equal the unit
shear at the end of the beam. Then: S times the width of the shell times the length
divided by 4 equals the longitudinal force.
If there are no other forces on an element at the neutral axis of the beam, then the
diagonal tension equals the shear. From this information, a pattern of diagonal tension
bars can be constructed.
5. The horizontal reaction of the arch elements of the shell must be contained by an
rigid frame and a horizontal tie. Assume that this is simply a wide arch equal to half of
the span. An approximation for the horizontal force would be equal to the load per
foot on this arch times the arch span, squared divided by 8 and the rise. The thrust in
the arch can be determined from this and the vertical reaction.
6. The edge spans of the shell should be supported by intermediate columns. The
stiffness of a barrel shell at the outside edges is simply not stiff or strong enough to
carry the required loads. The shell reinforcing at the edge members acts more like a
typical arch and should be reinforced with two layers of bars.