Shell Foundation Configuration and Geotechnical Behavior (A Review)

This manuscript elucidates the configuration and geotechnical behavior of shell foundations, providing comprehensive insight into their conceptual details, classifications, applications in civil engineering, and an overview of associated experimental and numerical research. Foundations are critical for the transfer of structural loads onto soils. In instances where heavy structural loads must be accommodated by soft soils, shell foundations can present a more cost-effective solution than traditional plain foundations. This implies that shell foundations could serve as efficient alternatives to spread and raft foundations, thereby offering substantial savings in terms of concrete and reinforcement costs. Additionally, inverted segments of spherical domes have the potential to support substantial loads, such as those imposed by water tanks. This study aims to shed light on the efficacy and applications of shell foundations in the field of civil engineering.