Settlement Mitigation of Cylindrical Tanks Founded on Weak Soil Under Static Loading.

Abstract

The issue of soft soil settlement has been a significant concern for several decades, prompting researchers to explore various approaches to enhance soft soil conditions and mitigate excessive soil settlement. Commonly employed techniques in this field include stone columns, encased stone columns, and foundation level adjustment. In the present study, a parametric investigation was conducted to assess the effectiveness of these different techniques in reducing expected excessive settlement for reinforced concrete cylindrical tanks located on Port-Said weak soil. A 3D finite element model was developed using PLAXIS 2D/3D to simulate a completely symmetric cylindrical tank. The numerical model replicates the typical construction and operation stages of the tank, employing Mohr-Coulomb and Hardening constitutive models to represent the layered soil in the analysis. The findings of this study aim to provide valuable design guidelines for constructing circular storage tanks in the Port-Said district, addressing the specific challenges posed by soft soil settlement.

Keywords

• cylindrical tanks
• stone columns
• encased stone columns
• consolidation
• plaxis 3d