Types and Forms of Shell Structures

HP FLOWER DOME

This structure is called a flower dome as being the best description of the appearance. It consists of four of the hyperbolic paraboloid dome units as described on the previous page with the highest point at the middle. However, the lower outside edges and stiffeners have been trimmed in a circle so the units resemble petals of a flower, and the structure is circular in plan.

There are many combinations of these types of hyperbolic paraboloidal shapes possible and the architectural combinations are almost infinite. The most important thing as far as the structure is concerned is that the be a system of valid structures that carry the loads. In some cases the shell must take bending stresses and the membrane stress theory is no longer valid. However, the bending stresses may be no larger than in a barrel shell structure.