8 The early development of reinforced concrete shells

This chapter discusses briefly the engineer's problem of creating structural systems to enclose spaces using non-tensile resistant materials and draws attention to Nature's solutions to similar problems. The development of reinforced concrete, a material which can be readily shaped and which has tensile as well as compressive strength, enabled a radical change in possible structural forms, with the thin shell being one major example. The early development of these forms of structure took place mainly outside Britain, probably due to our established traditions of metallic construction. However, the shortages of steel following the Second World War gave great impetus to their adoption and many interesting structures were designed and built by British engineers.

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