Portland cement mortar modified with latex and fiber glass for thin shell construction

Abstract

Thin shell construction, an important and intriguing concept in contemporary architecture, has been used in many structures around the world. Famous architects such as Nervi, Toroja, Candela, Saarinen and Yamasaki have molded concrete into long spans of thin shell roofs. Domes, barrel vaults, conoids and free forms along with the newest form of shell roof construction, the hyperbolic paraboloid, constitute architectural concepts which have rapidly gained acceptance among architects and building owners. Thin shell construction began first in Italy and Spain, later spreading to the western hemisphere, notably Mexico. In the United States widespread application of thin shell roof construction has been hampered by the high cost of labor and materials required for the elaborate formwork. Building codes are also in need of revision to include provisions for thin shell construction. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible potential use of portland cement mortar modified with latex and fiber glass as a covering material for thin shell structures. Tests were conducted on various formulations to determine certain physical properties of the modified portland cement. Application techniques were investigated to determine the feasibility of using a pump or spray system to further reduce costs.