Abstract
Large vertical steel tanks for fluid storage are usually constructed on soft foundations, so it is not surprising that the tank wall will settle unevenly with the settlement of the foundation, thus inducing deformations and stresses in the tank. This work investigates the linear static behavior of floating-roof tanks under harmonic settlement through finite element (FE) analyses. The influences of the radius-to-thickness ratio, the height-to-radius ratio and the wind girder stiffness on the structural behavior are first analyzed. Comparisons between the circumferential stresses in the wind girder and the vertical stresses in the tank bottom are then made. The displacement and the stress along the tank height are also discussed, and the concept of tank division along its height is presented. Finally, a design approximation for the radial displacement at the tank top is developed based on FE results, and a settlement criterion based on the top radial displacement is proposed which can be used in practical design.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
GB 50341, 2003. Code for Design of Vertical Cylindrical Welded Steel Oil Tanks. Chinese Planning Press, Beijing (in Chinese).
Godoy, L.A., Sosa, E.M., 2003. Localized support settlements of thin-walled storage tanks. Thin-Walled Structures, 41(10): 941–955. [doi: 10.1016/S0263-8231(03)00043-0]
Jonaidi, M., Ansourian, P., 1996. Effects of Differential Settlement on Storage Tank Shells. Advances in Steel Structures. Proceedings of First International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, Elsevier, p.821–826.
Jonaidi, M., Ansourian, P., 1998. Harmonic settlement effects on uniform and tapered tank shells. Thin-Walled Structures, 31(1–3):237–255. [doi: 10.1016/S0263-8231(98)00007-X]
Kamyab, H., Palmer, S.C., 1989. Analysis of displacements and stresses in oil storage tanks caused by differential settlement. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C. Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 203(C1):61–70.
Malik, Z., Morton, J., Ruiz, C., 1977. Ovalization of cylindrical tanks as a result of foundation settlement. Journal of Strain Analysis, 12(4):339–348.
Marr, W.A., Ramos, J.A.J., Lambe, T.W., 1982. Criteria for settlement of tanks. Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, ASCE, 108(GT8):1017–1039.
Palmer, S.C., 1994. Stresses in storage tanks caused by differential settlement. Proceedings of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Part E. Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering, 208(E1):5–16.
Palmer, S.C., Ceng, M.A., 1992. Structural effects of foundation tilt on storage tanks. Proceedings of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Part E. Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering, 206(E2):83–92.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50208017) and the Scientific Research Foundation for Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, Ministry of Education (No. J20040157), China
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhao, Y., Cao, Qs. & Xie, Xy. Floating-roof steel tanks under harmonic settlement: FE parametric study and design criterion. J. Zhejiang Univ. - Sci. A 7, 398–406 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2006.A0398
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2006.A0398