Water filled silo

[ajk1]

What is the most common method of rendering water filled silos watertightwith with respect to:

a) New water filled silos (about 30 m high): Is a liner used to render it water-tight, or is it to design to limit crack width and not use a liner, or is some other method used?
b) Existing 70 or 80 year old silo (about 30 m high) that was used for storing granular materials but now they want to convert it to store water. Would a steel liner be used to keep the water from leaking out through the cracks? Or would external prestressing be used and no liner? Or would a reinofrced concrete liner be used? Anyone with experience with this who can answer this? Thanks.

 

[JStephen]

I'm not aware that there is a "common" method of doing so.
For silo design in general, the loading is a combination of internal pressure and downward frictional forces. The internal pressure used for design may be less than what will be developed with water. It would depend on the product for which the silo was designed, and the amount of conservatism built into it.
You may have similar issues with the foundation if the design product was lighter than water.

 

[JedClampett]

a) AWWA 100 through 110 has standards for the construction of various types of water tanks. You need to get copies of the applicable one for your tank construction. They're not normally lined. The type of construction makes them water tight.
b) This sounds pretty crazy. Unless you have good record drawings of the silo, you might end up with a catastrophic failure. Water storage tanks cost about 40 to 90 cents a gallon to construct. By the time you modify a granular material silo, you'll pay a lot more.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

I agree with JStephen & JedClampett, the silo may not be structurally adequate for the hydraulic load. However, if it is the most likely approach to have a chance at beening cost effective and reasonably waterproof is to use swimming pool type construction inside the silo with shotcrete or Gunite.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[msquared48]

I agree with Sliderule here as to the vertical laod capacity, and the pressure on the sidewalls.

Just don't use heavy water and you'll be fine.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[ajk1]

Thanks to JStephen, Jed Clampett and Sliderulera amd Msquared48 for this useful and helpful information. Much appreciated.