Modeling Research and Test Verification of the Seismic Response of a Multistage Series Liquid Tank

Abstract

Liquid storage tanks are lifeline structures and strategically very important. Heavy damages or even collapse of these facilities subjected to strong earthquakes may cause disastrous consequences. In this paper, the seismic response of a multistage series liquid storage tank was simulated by a finite element method and verified by a scaled-down experiment. The structural flexibility of the tank and the liquid-structure coupling characteristics between the liquid and tank wall were considered in the research. A multimass-block and spring model was employed to be equivalent to the longitudinal vibration of the liquid in the storage tank. The relationships between the connection springs and the elements of the stiffness matrix were explicitly deduced. The seismic response analysis of a four-stage series liquid tank was carried out, and the acceleration response, the stress response of the tank, and the vertical vibration of the liquid were obtained. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation results, which verifies the effectiveness of the modeling method in this paper.

TLD optimal vibration control for elevated concrete water towers

“…Leng et al [12] studied the bidirectional vibration of offshore wind turbines (OWTs) due to misalignment of wind and wave loads. Yao et al [13] used the finite element method to simulate the seismic response of a multistage series fed liquid tank, considering the structural flexibility of the tank and the liquid-solid coupling characteristics between the liquid and the tank wall. Li and Wang [14] studied the seismic dynamic responses of a scaffold water tower with a sloshing water body and found that the water sloshing in the water tank prolonged the natural seismic dynamic period of the structure and reduced the displacement of the structure.…”

Seismic Performance Evaluation and Retrofit of Liquid Storage Tanks- Case Study

“…The mechanical spring-mass tank model considerably simplifies computation of liquid storage tanks seismic behavior. Although this modelling approach is not sufficient to monitor change in the liquid level and liquidstructure interaction due to liquid sloshing, the approach is computationally cheap, simple to develop, and adequate for the main objective of this study [13][14][15][16][17].…”