Seismic analysis of plastic water tanks
Seismic analysis of plastic water tanks
(OP)
I am looking for information on seismic analysis of plastic water storage tanks.
I have only been able to find information on steel and concrete tanks. I looked into using the steel tank analysis as a starting point, but it seems that the elastic modulus, failure strain, etc are bundled together in empirical(?) constants.
Any help would be appreciated.
I have only been able to find information on steel and concrete tanks. I looked into using the steel tank analysis as a starting point, but it seems that the elastic modulus, failure strain, etc are bundled together in empirical(?) constants.
Any help would be appreciated.






RE: Seismic analysis of plastic water tanks
RE: Seismic analysis of plastic water tanks
The general analysis for forces from API-650 should work, but R factors could vary due to material.
RE: Seismic analysis of plastic water tanks
So I'm confused why you need to do these calculations yourself.
RE: Seismic analysis of plastic water tanks
RE: Seismic analysis of plastic water tanks
The owner requested that I check the seismic performance of the tank. I'll proceed with the AWWA analysis to get the hoop stress and shell compression stress, and compare against published material properties to get a ballpark idea of whether or not the kind of tank I'm considering will work.
Then I'll add a requirement to the spec that the tank supplier provide documentation of seismic performance for the specific site conditions.
My main concern was modeling the more exotic failure modes like "elephant foot" buckling and sloshing damage at the tank top, but it sounds like I can leave that to the tank supplier.
Thanks Again.