Optimality of Candela’s concrete shells: a study of his posthumous design

Abstract

In the field of concrete shells it is possible to distinguish two periods, an initial constructive period that includes many structures erected until the 1970s, and the second phase directed mainly at analysis, due to the development in computing processors and the increasing use of methods of computational mechanics. This paper offers a brief review of the constructive time, focusing on the most emblematic works of Félix Candela, the centenary of whose birth is celebrated in 2010. Moreover, optimization techniques are applied to find some optimum geometric designs of an actual concrete shell – the posthumous work of Candela – presenting an aesthetic appearance similar to that which the designer had initially planned. The results confirm that improvements in the structural behaviour may be achieved with slight geometric changes.