A hypar shell is a thin, doubly curved roof shell in the shape of a hyperbolic paraboloid (abbreviated hypar). It is also called an hp-shell or hypar shell. The saddle shape is remarkable because it is a ruled surface: it can be built up entirely from straight lines.
How it works
Because the surface is a ruled surface, the formwork can be made from straight boards or battens despite the curved shape. The double curvature gives the shell great stiffness at a small thickness. As a result, large spans are possible with little material.
Structure
- Saddle-shaped, doubly curved shell in the form of a hyperbolic paraboloid
- Usually made of thin reinforced concrete
- Formwork can be built from straight boards or battens thanks to the ruled surface
Application
- Roofs of halls
- Churches
- Canopies
- Pavilions
Related terms
- Concrete structures
- Reinforcement
- Formwork
- Span
- Membrane
- Vault
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