Mechanical Behavior of Large Symmetric Fiber Reinforced Polymer-Reactive Powder Concrete Composite Tanks with Floating Tops

Abstract

In order to investigate the mechanical behavior of FRP-reactive powder concrete composite tanks with floating tops (FRPCTs) subjected to gravity, twenty-two full-scale FRPCTs were designed with varying parameters for the inner diameter of the storage tank (D) and the thickness of the reactive powder concrete (tc). Based on nonlinear constitutive models and the contact of the materials, and considering tank–liquid coupling, three-dimensional finite element refined models of FRPCTs were established under gravity with ADINA8.5 finite element software, and finite element models of FRPCTs under gravity were verified based on theoretical frequency formulae and existing static tests. Then, the influence of the regularity of different parameters on the equivalent stress, hoop stress, radial stress, and axial stress of the FRPCTs was obtained, and the stress distributions of FRPCTs were clearly described. The results show that the natural frequency of FRPCTs increases gradually with an increase in the height of the tank liquid (Hw); however, the natural frequency of FRPCTs reduces with an increase in D. The equivalent stress, hoop stress, radial stress, and axial stress of the FRP plate and RPC decrease slowly with an increase in tc. The axial stress of the inner RPC increases with an increase in D. The equivalent stress of the inner FRP plate subjected to gravity is distributed in a W shape, the hoop stress, and the axial stress of the FRPCTs are distributed in a U shape, and the radial stress of the inner FRP plate is distributed in an I shape. The maximum displacement occurs in the middle of the FRPCTs, and the bonding between the FRP plate and the concrete is better. Finally, a calculation formula for the variation in the regularity of the tc is developed with different D, and design and construction suggestions for FRPCTs are given, which can provide technical support for the application of the FRPCTs in practical engineering.

Keywords

• FRP-reactive powder concrete composite tanks
• tank–liquid coupling
• finite element model
• mechanical behavior
• ADINA