Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 General

Liquid storage tanks are commonly used to store water, liquid petroleum, petroleum
products, and similar liquids. The force analyses of all the tanks are same irrespective
of chemical nature of product. All tanks are designed as crack free structures to
eliminate any leakage. Past history says that, many water tanks have failed or there
service life has reduced during the earthquake because of improper analysis, design
and present engineering practices. This should not happen as water tanks is an
important public utility structure, since it forms an essential part of the water
distribution system, which is the life line facility that must remain functional
following any natural calamity. Most municipalities in our country depend on water
tanks to cater to the needs of the society.

1.2 Classification of Liquid storage tanks

Liquid storage tanks can be classified in the following categories depending on

various factors.
Depending on Position with respect to the ground level we can define tanks as
(i) Under Ground Storage Tanks (ii) Tanks on Ground

Figure 1.1 Under Ground Storage Tanks Figure 1.2 Ground Storage Tanks
(forum.homeone.com.au) (tanksindia.com)

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(iii) Overhead or Elevated Tanks

Figure 1.3 Elevated Tanks (www.engineering.com)

Settling tank, aeration tank, and clear water reservoir are some examples of tanks on
ground. Tanks like gasholder and septic tanks are examples of underground storage
tanks. Elevated tanks are tank supported by staging or shaft.

Depending on the Shape we can define as

(i) Rectangular Tanks (ii) Spherical Bottom Tanks

Figure 1.4 Rectangular Tanks Figure 1.5 Spherical Bottom Tanks

(www.engineering.com) (www.engineering.com)

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(iii) Conical Bottom Tanks (iv) Circular Tanks

Figure 1.6 Conical Bottom Tanks Figure 1.7 Circular Tanks

(www.fao.org) (dir.indiamart.com)

(v) Intze Type Tanks

Figure 1.8 Intze Type Tanks (designclub.in)

Based on the type of Material used for construction tanks can be defined as (i) Steel
Tanks (ii) Reinforced Concrete Tanks (iii) Prestressed Tanks.

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1.3 Components of Elevated Water Tank

Elevated water tank generally consist of two parts one is container and the other is
staging. Container part consists of roof slab, roof beams, vertical wall and base slab.
The staging is RCC beam-column frame work which is symmetrically placed below the
base slab; base beam which connects the column and transfers the load of tank
vertically to the column is positioned below the base slab. Figure 1.9 shows component
parts of elevated water tanks.

Figure 1.9 Component Parts of Elevated Water

Tanks

Elevated water tanks also have to carry lateral loads which are induced because of
earthquake or wind effects. This lateral load produces moment, shear force and axial
force in the column. The staging column is caste monolithically with the tank at top and
foundation at bottom so that it is stable against lateral loads and it will not collapse. The
columns should be connected with bracing at intermediate levels to provide additional
stiffness and reduce the buckling.

The main reasons for failure of Elevated tanks are stated below.
i. Damage to the supporting structures
ii. Stretching of ties
iii. Buckling of struts

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iv. Tearing, warping and rupture of gusset plates(steel tanks) at end connections
v. Failure of fastening and piping
vi. Foundation and liquefaction
vii. Slope failure and total collapse

1.4 Analysis of Tanks

The tank components are subjected to pressure due to liquid those are hydrostatic in
static condition and hydrodynamic when subjected to seismic ground motion. So
analysis can be divided into two parts i.e. hydrostatic ad hydrodynamic analysis.

1.4.1 Hydrostatic analysis

The liquid present in the tank exerts pressure on tank wall and bottom slab. The
pressure distribution on wall is uniformly varying from bottom to the top water level
with intensity zero at top and wH at bottom. Pressure on bottom slab is uniform and
intensity is wH (H is the height of top liquid level from base) as shown in Figure 1.10.

Figure 1.10 Hydrostatic Pressure Distribution

1.4.2 Hydrodynamic analysis

Tanks have suffered significant damage during past earthquakes. The seismic design
standards have been revised several times to improve the performance of tanks during
future earthquakes. Seismic safety of liquid storage tanks is of considerable
importance. Ground supported and buried tanks are used by industries for storing
toxic materials, petrochemicals and water. Elevated tanks are generally used in public

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water distribution system. These tanks must remain functional in post-earthquake
period and toxic contents in them should not leak.

Evaluation of hydrodynamic forces requires suitable modelling and dynamic analysis

of tank-liquid system, which is rather complex. However, availability of mechanical
models (analogues) of tanks has considerably simplified the analysis. These
mechanical models, convert the tank-liquid system into an equivalent spring-mass
system. In these mechanical models it is recognized that vibrating fluid inside the
container has two mass components, one that moves with the tank wall (i.e.
Impulsive mass) and another one which undergoes sloshing motion (i.e. convective
mass). Dynamic model for rigid wall tank is shown in Figure 1.11.

Figure 1.11 Dynamic model of tank (Munshi J. A. et al. 2003)

For tanks with H/R = 0.9 (~1), half the liquid is impulsive and half the liquid is
convective. For broad tanks (H/R < 1), more liquid is convective than impulsive. For
slender tanks (H/R > 1), more liquid is impulsive than convective.

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1.5 General requirements for design as per IS 3370

The concrete used should satisfy conditions given in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1 Minimum Cement content, Maximum Water-Cement Ratio

& Minimum Grade of Concrete
Sr Concrete Minimum Maximum Free Minimum
. Cement Content Water Cement Grade
No. (Kg/m3) Ratio Of Concrete
1 Plain Concrete 250 0.50 M20
2 Reinforced 320 0.45 M30
Concrete
3 Pre-stressed 360 0.40 M40
Concrete

For small capacity tanks up to 50 3 at locations where there is difficulty in providing

M30 grade concrete, the minimum grade of concrete may be taken as M25 (except in
coastal areas)

1.6 Design

Adequate consideration shall be given to the effects of monolithic construction in the

assessment of axial force, bending moment and shear.

1.6.1 Method of Design

i. Limit State Design

The section designed using limit state method should be checked for Limit state of
collapse and Limit state of serviceability. Limit state of serviceability is followed by
Deflection check (The limits of deflection shall be as per IS 456) Cracking check
(crack width 0.2mm may be deemed to be satisfactory if steel stress under service
conditions does not exceed 115 N/mm2 for plain bars and 130 N/mm2 for deformed
bars.

ii. Working Stress Method

The design of members shall satisfy adequate resistance to cracking and strength.
Permissible Concrete Stresses for working stress method as per IS 3370-2009 (Part II)
are given in Table 1.2.

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 Table 1.2 Permissible concrete stresses in calculations relating to resistance and
cracking
Concrete grade Direct tension Bending tension
Sr. No.
(N/mm2) (N/mm2) (N/mm2)
1 M25 1.3 1.8
2 M30 1.5 2.0
3 M35 1.6 2.2
4 M40 1.8 2.4
5 M45 2.0 2.6
6 M50 2.1 2.8

In strength calculation, the permissible concrete stresses shall be in accordance with

Table1.3.
Table 1.3 Permissible stresses in concrete

Sr. No. Concrete Bending (cbc) Direct (cc) Bond stress

grade (N/mm2) (N/mm2) (N/mm2) (N/mm2)
1 M25 8.5 6.0 0.9
2 M30 10 8.0 1.0
3 M35 11.5 9.0 1.1
4 M40 13.0 10.0 1.2
5 M45 14.5 11.0 1.3
6 M50 16.0 12.0 1.4

Permissible Stresses in Steel shall conform to the values specified in Table 1.4.

Table 1.4 Permissible Stresses in Steel Reinforcement for Strength

Sr Permissible stress in N/mm
Type of stress in
. Plain Round Mild High Yield Strength
Steel Reinforcement
No. Steel bars Deformed bars
Tensile stress in members
1 under direct tension, bending 115 130
and shear
Compressive Stress in
2 column subjected to direct 125 140
load

The sections designed for this limiting stresses given in Table 1.4 are deemed to
satisfy the serviceability condition. In that case section will be cracked but the racking
will not cause any adverse effect over its appearance and will not have leakage
problem.

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1.7 Crack Width Calculations

Assessment of Crack Widths in flexure in accordance with IS- 3370 (part- II)

1.7.1 Crack Width in Flexure

Strain in tension reinforcement is limited to 0.87 fy/Es and stress in concrete to 0.45fcu.
Calculate crack width using formula given below.

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= 2( )
1+

(1.1)
= 1 2 (1.2)
()( )
2 = 3 () ... (For 0.2 mm crack width)

1.5 ()( )
2 = ... (For 0.1 mm crack width)
3 ()

1.7.2 Crack Width in Direct Tension

Strain in tension reinforcement is limited to 0.87 fy / Es. Calculate crack width using
formula given below.
= 3 (1.3)

1.8 Reinforcement Detailing as per IS- 3370 (part- II)

Minimum Reinforcement for limiting crack width due to temperature and moisture,

provide reinforcement should be greater than given by following formula. =

The minimum reinforcement in walls,

floors and roof slab in each of two
directions at right angles, within each
surface zone should not be less than
0.35% of surface zone for deformed
bars and 0.64% of surface zone for plain
bars.
Surface zones for various wall and slab
thicknesses are shown in Figure 1.12.
For walls and suspended slab if D<500

Figure 1.12 Surface zones: Ground 9

slab (IS 3370-2009 Part 2)
 consider total D and if D>500, 250 mm on both faces.

1.9 Crack Width Calculations as per Eurocode

i.Calculation of Crack Widths As per EN 1992.1.1.2004

= , ( ) (1.4)

Where
Sr, max = max Crack spacing,

sm = mean strain in the reinforcement under the relevant combination of loads,

including the effect of imposed deformations and taking into account
the effects of tension stiffening. Only the additional tensile strain
beyond the state of zero strain of the concrete at the same level is
considered,
cm = mean strain in the concrete between cracks.
ii. sm- cm may be calculated from the expression

,
(1+ , )
,
= 0.6 (1.5)

Where
s = Stress in the tension reinforcement assuming a cracked section. For pretension
members, s may replace by p the stress variation in prestressing tendons
from the state of zero strain of the concrete at the same level,
e = is the ratio of Es/Ecm.
p, eff =(As + 1 Ap) / Ac, eff (1.6)
Kt = A factor depends on the duration of load
= 0.6 for short term loading,
= 0.4 for long term loading.
iii. In situations where bonded reinforcement is fixed at reasonably close centres
within the tension zone (spacing 5 (c + /2), the maximum final crack spacing
may be calculated from Expression 1.7, as shown in Figure 1.13.

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Figure 1.13 Crack width, w, at concrete surface relative to distance from bar (EN
1992.1.1.2004)

Sr,max =K3c+K1K2K4/ p, eff (1.7)

Where
= diameter of the bar, where a mixture of bar diameters is used in a section, an
equivalent diameter, eq, should be used. For a section with n1 bars of
diameter 1 and n2 bars of diameter 2, the following expression should be
used.
1 1 2 + 2 2 2
eq = (1.8)
1 1 + 2 2

c = cover to the longitudinal reinforcement,

K1 = coefficient which takes account of the bond properties of the bonded
reinforcement
= 0.8 for high bond bars,
= 1.6 for bars with an effectively plain surface.

Where the spacing of the bonded reinforcement exceeds 5(c + /2), As shown in
Figure 1.13 or where there is no bonded reinforcement within the tension zone, an
upper bound to the crack width may be found by assuming a maximum crack
spacing.
Sr, max = 1.3 (h x) (1.9)

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1.10 Reinforcement Detailing as per Eurocode

Minimum amount of bonded reinforcement is required to control cracking is

calculated from following expression

, = , (1.10)

Where
As, min = minimum area of reinforcing steel within the tensile zone,
Act = area of concrete within tensile zone. The tensile zone is that part of the
section which is calculated to be in tension just before formation of the crack,
s = absolute value of the maximum stress permitted in the reinforcement
immediately after formation of the crack. This may be taken as the yield
strength of the reinforcement, fyk.
2
, = 0.3 ( )3 (1.11)
K = coefficient whiuch allows for the effect of non-uniform self equililibrating
streszses,
= 1.0 for webs with h 300 mm or flanges with widths less than 300 mm,
= 0.65 for webs with h 800 mm or flanges with widths grater than 800 mm.
Kc = coefficient which takes account of the stress distribution within the section
immediately prior to cracking and of the change of the lever arm,
For pure tension kc = 1.0,
For bending or bending combined with axial forces kc = 0.4.

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1.11 Outline of Present Study

Present study aims at evaluating the analysis and design of liquid storage tanks, two
types of tanks based on positioning are considered for study purpose i.e. GSR and
ESR. Work done has explained in six chapters. The content in each chapter of this
thesis is explained below

Chapter 1 includes the classification and types of Liquid storage tanks, explains the
types of analysis and method of design used in this thesis, provisions for crack control
and minimum reinforcement explained as per Indian and Eurocodes.

Chapter 2 explains the literature review related to present study mainly on

Hydrodynamic and Wind effects.

Chapter 3 is on analysis and design of container; it includes procedure for Limit State
Design, Limiting Stress Design, and Working Stress Design of containers with more
emphasis on GSR.

Chapter 4 elaborates the analysis and design of ESR staging. Calculation of seismic
load for MDOF system is described. Study of various standard provisions for dynamic
wind loading is presented. Behavior of four column staging has been explained with
and without 100-30-30 rule. Also governing cases are determined for 9m, 12m and
15m staging height tanks.

Chapter 5 deals with approximate analysis of ESR staging for preliminary sizing of
the components.

Chapter 6 explains observations, conclusions and future scope of the present thesis.

References includes some of the references which were helpful in the project are
mentioned in this section.

Annexure I includes Design charts.

Annexure II explains the hydrodynamic analysis of circular tank supported on ground

as per IS and Eurocodes.

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Annexure III elaborates the detailed procedure for the calculation of seismic and wind
loads of Elevated Service Reservoirs (ESR).

Annexure IV Approximate analysis of four column ESR staging has explained in this
section.

Annexure V Determination of governing load case when R = 4, by mathematical

model has explained in this section.

Annexure VI explains Determination of governing load case When R = 2.5, by

mathematical model.

Annexure VII elaborates the Determination of governing load case When R = 4, by

approximate method.

Annexure VIII explains the complete analysis and design of ESR.

Annexure IX Paper published during M.Tech. Course is presented in this Annexure.

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