Understanding the Seismic Resilience of Metallic Cylindrical Tanks Through Parametric Analysis

Abstract

This research investigates the seismic behavior of rigid and flexible cylindrical steel tanks, focusing on tanks with an open top and fully anchored at the base. The primary objective is to evaluate the hydrodynamic pressures exerted by the fluid on the tank walls during seismic excitation. Three widely recognized design approaches—New Zealand NZSEE recommendations, European code UNI EN 1998-4:2006 (CEN, 2006), and American Water Works Association AWWA D100-05 standard (ANSI/AWWA, 2005)—were implemented and compared with high-definition finite element models and then validated against the experimental results. Nonlinear fluid–structure interaction (FSI) was modeled using an Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) formulation with the Navier–Stokes equations governing the fluid motion and material and geometric nonlinearities considered in the tank walls. Parametric analyses were conducted to investigate the impact of tank geometry, specifically height-to-radius and radius-to-thickness ratios, on seismic response, identifying a transition between rigid and flexible behavior. The study also examined the influence of seismic input using a set of ten displacement spectrum-compatible ground motions. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the seismic resilience of cylindrical steel tanks, offering valuable insights for improving design standards and safety in earthquake-prone regions where these systems may abound.

Keywords

• seismic response
• cylindrical steel tanks
• fluid–structure interaction (FSI)
• finite element modeling
• hydrodynamic pressure
• sloshing