Sustainable Shell Structures: A Bibliometric and Critical Review of Buckling Behavior and Material-Efficient Design Strategies

Sustainable shell structures are thin, curved systems such as domes, vaults, and cylindrical shells that achieve strength and stability primarily through membrane action, allowing significant material savings. Their sustainability lies in minimizing embodied energy and CO2 emissions by using less material, integrating recycled or bio-based components, and applying optimization strategies to extend service life and enable reuse or recycling, all while maintaining structural performance and architectural quality. This review critically examines the state-of-the-art in sustainable shell structures, focusing on their buckling behavior and material-efficient design strategies. Integrating bibliometric analysis with thematic synthesis, the study identifies key research trends, theoretical advancements, and optimization tools that support structural efficiency. Emphasis is placed on recent developments in composite and bio-based materials, imperfection-sensitive buckling models, and performance-based design approaches. Advanced computational methods, including finite element analysis, machine learning, and digital twins, are highlighted as critical in enhancing predictive accuracy and sustainability outcomes. The findings underscore the dual challenge of achieving both structural stability and environmental responsibility, while outlining research gaps and future directions toward resilient, low-impact shell construction.