Structural analysis of Heinz Isler’s bubble shell

Abstract This paper presents a detailed structural analysis of a bubble shell engineered by Heinz Isler. Through 3D scanning the geometry of this shell structure has become available to the authors. Structural analysis has not been possible before since the geometry of the shell was not available. The bubble shell was Isler’s most built type of shell. In the paper first the process of reverse engineering the geometry of the shell is described. Second, the effect of pre-stress in the edge beams is described. Third, the load distribution throughout the shell and the membrane behaviour relative to bending behaviour is assessed.