Unit 4 - Analysis of Domes and Shells

• Domes evolved from arches, The ‘Building Construction Handbook’ describes domes as: ‘Double
curvature shells which can be rotationally formed by any curved geometrical plane figure rotating about
a central vertical axis.’
• Domes belong to the category of self-supporting structures that take the form of an arch. They distribute
loads around the sides and down the foundation.
• A dome is not necessarily accompanied with a circular bottom surface and might as well have an oval
shape.
• Domes can be designed to fit any architectural need: roof of circular areas, circular tanks, exhibition
halls, auditorium, bottom of tanks, bunkers, homes, cabins, churches, schools, gymnasiums, arenas
and stadiums, bulk storages, landlord dwellings and various other privately or publicly owned facilities.
How does a dome use materials more efficiently?
• Imagine you are building a water tank: 8 feet high, 8 feet wide and 8 feet deep. You would need exactly
384 square feet of material to build it. It would hold exactly 512 cubic feet of water.
• A spherical tank measuring 5 feet 6 inches in radius will use all 384 square feet of material too. But it
will hold 707.6 cubic feet of water – 195.6 cubic feet more than the cubic tank.
• Again, both tanks used the same amount of material, but the spherical tank used it more efficiently.
• A dome, therefore, will always use less material to cover the same space utilized by a square
conventional building.
• Less material means less cost, or higher quality materials for the same cost, or both.
Elements of Dome
Types of Domes
Advantages

Disadvantages