Building structure with composite arched units and method of construction thereof

Claim 1

An arched building structure comprising a plurality of similar elongated arched units disposed side by side in adjoining relation to form a continuous shelter membrane, each arched unit composed of a plurality of similar sheet metal trough members secured to each other in end-to-end relation and in alignment, each trough member having a generally V-shaped cross-section with a transversely flat bottom and diverging side wings and a laterally outwardly protruding flange at the outer edge of each wing, each trough member being longitudinally arched, the bottom of the trough member being on the inside of the arched unit, said bottom and side wings being corrugated transversely of the trough member, the flanges of the trough members of any arched unit being directly secured in overlapping relationship to the side flanges of the trough members of adjacent arched units, at least some non-adjacent arched units being strengthened, said strengthened arched units further including a series of transversely flat rectangular sheet metal cover members secured to said flanges and extending across the top of said trough members being in end-to-end alignment over the entire length of said arched unit, said cover members closing the top of said trough members and defining a closed space in said strengthened arched unit, concrete filling said space, and armature rods embedded in said concrete and extending longitudinally of said strengthened arched unit.