Thin-shell concrete

Thermal Loading of Thin-Shell Concrete Cooling Towers... 

Billington, D. P., Thin Shell Concrete Structures, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1965. 

The insulating value and mechanical properties of rigid plastic foams have led to the development of several novel methods of building construction, including polyurethane foam panels as unit structural components [95] and expanded polystyrene as a concrete base in thin-shell construction [96]. 

Materials of Construction May be constructed of wood, metal or concrete. The structure must be designed to withstand wind or earthquake stress, dead loads such as weight of tower and circulating water and vibrations from mechanical equipment. Constructed of thin concrete shells that have good wind resistance. 

The average distillation column at a typical refinery or petrochemical plant is probably 1 to 4 m in diameter and 15 to 50 m tall. Some columns, however, are 15 m in diameter and can extend to a height of 100 m. Columns taller than this are unfeasible to construct and erect. In addition, column height-to-diameter ratios greater than 30 are uncommon because of the support problems encountered with tall, thin columns. Most distillation columns in industrial service are bolted onto thick concrete slabs. Tall, thin columns can employ guy wires for extra support when shell thicknesses are insufficient to prevent excessive sway in the face of high winds. 

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