Identification of key design parameters for earthquake resistance of reinforced concrete shell structures

Abstract Concrete roof shells have shown to be inherently able to sustain earthquakes, but the reasons for this apparent seismic resistance have been subject to limited research. Concrete shells exhibit a high structural efficiency and thus can be constructed very thin. Because of their relative lightweight nature, the earthquake forces induced in a thin shell structure are relatively low. However, the shape of a shell structure is typically established so that it performs optimally under gravity loads, carrying the loads to the foundations mainly through membrane action over the shell surface. Unanticipated horizontal forces induced by earthquakes generate bending stresses in concrete shell structures, which could lead to structural damage. Through a parametric study of 8 cm thick, concrete roof shells with a square plan, the research presented in this paper demonstrates that small to mid-sized (span