FORCE LINES EMBODIED IN THE BUILDING: PALAZZETTO DELLO SPORT

摘要

The paper presents a study on Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome, an achievement of beauty through engineering performance. It was designed and built by Pier Luigi Nervi. The study highlights the statically advantageous structural conception in order to keep the mechanical behaviour of the cupola within the limits of the membrane theory. In this order the paper offers a mechanical analysis of the shell including the calculation of the membrane forces and bending moments as well highlighting the disturbing stresses along the boundary. This computing emphasises that Nervi's thinking is primarily concerned with statics. It proves how he succeeded to create accordance between structural performance and aesthetics.