Shells can be classified in several ways, including by the material used and thickness. Thin concrete shells are lightweight structures made of reinforced concrete without internal supports. Common thin concrete shell types include barrel shells, folded plates, hyperbolic paraboloids, domes, and translation shells. Barrel shells carry loads longitudinally and transversally, while domes provide a strong, stiff structure with double curvature. Thin concrete shells offer wide open interior spaces but require sealing and ventilation to prevent moisture issues.