Buckling of Fabric‐Reinforced Concrete Shells

Abstract

A series of fabric‐reinforced concrete shells are tested for buckling under uniform normal pressure in an air chamber. The test results are compared with previous experimental results for steelreinforced concrete shells, and are used to provide a tentative design procedure for fabric‐reinforced spherical shells. The design procedure is illustrated with an example, comparing results with the results obtained by design methods for steel‐reinforced shells described by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 344 and by S. J. Medwadowski and others in 1979. Experiments to maximize buckling stiffness per unit material cost in the shell cross section are summarized. Practical limitations on shapes of fabric‐reinforced shells are described as well as their buckling sensitivity to variables in construction procedure.