Experimental study of prefabricated funicular shell units

Prefabricated funicular shells were constructed using a stretched membrane as a mould. Forty-five shells with various rises and different types of reinforcement were loaded to failure and their behaviour in the elastic and non-linear range was investigated. The experimental values of membrane and bending stresses in the elastic range along diagonal sections of funicular shells subjected to uniform loading were calculated and compared with the results of numerical analysis. The results are generally found to be in close agreement with theory. Experimental values of vertical deflections along the longitudinal and transverse sections of the shells also compare favourably with the theory. The experimental failure and crack loads are obtained. Empirical equations expressing the relation between rise and reinforcement type with failure and crack loads are given.