Storage tank finite element analysis - fitness for service
Storage tank finite element analysis - fitness for service
(OP)
Can any point me in the right direction?
I need to do a finite element analysis on an existing chemical storage tank to validate its fitness for service. Is there a software package available? What procedure should I use? The tank is not for petroleum product. The closest that I can come up with is in the API.
Thank you much.
I need to do a finite element analysis on an existing chemical storage tank to validate its fitness for service. Is there a software package available? What procedure should I use? The tank is not for petroleum product. The closest that I can come up with is in the API.
Thank you much.





RE: Storage tank finite element analysis - fitness for service
corus
RE: Storage tank finite element analysis - fitness for service
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com
RE: Storage tank finite element analysis - fitness for service
My main interests are out of plumb and foundation settlement (approximate 1" difference for a 50 ft dia. tank). The tank was built 30 years ago. I do not know if it remained that way after construction, or a gradually worsening problem.
Since posting the thread, I came across API-579 storage tank fitness for service. Based on the two replies, I assume it is good for chemical tanks also. I realize if it exceeds the code limit, then FE is needed.
I checked into several FEA software for storage tanks. Coade & Codeware (FEPipe) seem to be the closest match. Can anyone comment on their experience with FE for storage tank analysis?
Ultrazero
RE: Storage tank finite element analysis - fitness for service
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com
RE: Storage tank finite element analysis - fitness for service
If you still have concerns over the current design that you need to perform a FE analysis then any FE program will do. Look at other threads to see which will be suitable, ie. cheapest. For pressure vessel designs, Appendix A of BS 5500 (EN something or other) is used to assess the stresses from FE analysis. These general rules are applicable for most structures regardless of the application. It's up to you to consider which load case you need to assess though it's best to consider the worst case possible to satisfy yourself, say for example if support was provided by 4 legs then assess it for only 3 supports. As it stands, a 1 inch settlement on a 50 foot diameter vessel isn't going to change the distribution of loads in any significant way, if support is still provided at all points.
corus
RE: Storage tank finite element analysis - fitness for service
Done some work assessing old pipework and associated plant - for large-scale projects like dams it can be worth seeing how progressive the settlement is eg by laser surveying of the tank and datum points monthly, weekly or even daily if really worried.
Supporting soil and concrete properties may be key for settlement; may be worth doing some quick sensitivity studies on these unless you can get some data.
Good luck!
RE: Storage tank finite element analysis - fitness for service
Accurate measurement of the settlement is vital. I am going to investigate laser survey instrument compared with an optical unit. The former should have much higher accuracy.
My most recent discovery: API 650 Appendix B and API 653 Appendix B discuss tank foundation design and settlement. I gather that if the severity of the problem goes beyond the API documents, then a finite element analysis is justified.
I also found Coade sells a "Tank" software program that implements API 650 and 653. It has a module that analyze tank settlement (presumably not using FEA).
Has anyone tried any of the API tank software programs?
Ultrazero
RE: Storage tank finite element analysis - fitness for service
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com