A Simplified Analytical Approach on the Dynamic Pressures in Cylindrical Vertical Tanks

Abstract

A simplified methodology is proposed to estimate the dynamic pressures developed within partially filled cylindrical vertical tanks when subjected to earthquake-related horizontal accelerations. The total pressure at the bottom of the tank is calculated as the superposition of vertical and horizontal pressures. While the magnitude of the vertical pressure depends on the free surface height of the liquid, the horizontal pressure depends on the magnitude of the horizontal acceleration and on the diameter of the tank. The liquid free surface oscillation angle is simulated based upon the principles of the simple pendulum analogy for sloshing. The length of the pendulum, however, is set on the basis of a methodology to calculate the free sloshing frequency of partially filled containers. Such a methodology is experimentally verified in this work. The outputs of the model for full-scale situations suggest that the lateral perturbation—sloshing phenomenon (earthquake effect) can generate an increase in the total pressure of 56% above the no lateral perturbation situation, further suggesting that such an overpressure should be taken into account when designing tanks that could be potentially subjected to earthquake-related perturbations.