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From:
Chris J.K. Williams, “Shell Structures”, what-is-a-shell.pdf (32 pages)
Introduction: What is a shell?
The most obvious definition of a shell might be through its geometry. A structure or structural element may be a fully three-dimensional solid object, or it might have some dimensions notable smaller than others. A beam is straight and it is relatively long in comparison to its cross-section. Thus it is defined by a straight line. An arch is defined by a curved line and a plate by a plane.
A shell is a structure defined by a curved surface. It is thin in the direction perpendicular to the surface, but there is no absolute rule as to how thin it has to be. It might be curved in two directions, like a dome or a cooling tower, or it may be cylindrical and curve only in one direction. . .
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