Toward lightness in concrete: Some 20 TH century shells and bridges

Abstract

The development of concrete shell roof design in the 20 th century was characterized by a striving for lightness. As structural engineers sought to span or cover longer spaces efficiently, the designers of concrete shell roofs drew upon aspects of their own or other's experience and developments in concrete arch bridge design as well as in shell design. This paper summarizes some largely European milestones for both types of structures that were constructed prior to the founding of the IASS in 1959 and thus attempts to expand the background for the IASS Jubilee Book that was co-edited by the two authors.