deformation in welded rectangular steel tank
deformation in welded rectangular steel tank
(OP)
? The long walls of a 40' x 10' x 10' rectangular stainless steel tank consist of four - 20' x 5' plates welded together. The lower plates on the long wall of the tank has deformed by bulging out and deforming inwards. The lower plates on the opposite long wall has deformed in opposite manner by deforming inwards and bulging out respectively. It appears that the tank has twisted. The tank is suppoted on pile caps and the foundation is level. Looking for a method to straightening the bulge and inward deformation and reinforcing the tank with stiffners.






RE: deformation in welded rectangular steel tank
Stainless angles are the traditional method for reinforcing stainless steel plates, although tees or plates (perpendicular to the walls) work. You can use the same size angle and adjust the spacing to match your stresses. Make sure the attachment points (corners and bottom) are checked.
There's a price point where it's cheaper to replace the whole thing with a concrete tank. But I suspect that whoever made the (boneheaded) decision to go with stainless is not going to like completely changing the design.
I've done several designs on rectangular metal tanks. When the powers that be realize how messy and ugly they look when properly done, they usually listen and go with concrete. But not always.
RE: deformation in welded rectangular steel tank