Wind Loads for Designing Open-topped Oil-storage Tanks in Various Arrangements

Abstract

SUMMARYThe present study proposes a wind force coefficient model for designing open-topped oil-storage tanks in various arrangements. In our previous paper, we proposed a model for isolated tanks. However, in practice, more than two tanks are constructed in various arrangements. In such cases, the wind force distributions may be different from those for isolated tanks. As a result, the buckling behavior of tanks may be affected by the arrangement, significantly. Therefore, focus is on the relationship between wind force distribution and buckling behavior in the present paper. Wind tunnel experiments are carried out to measure the wind pressure distributions on the tanks. A CFD analysis is also carried out to investigate the wind flow around the tanks in more detail. The effect of wind force distribution on the buckling is discussed based on a non-linear buckling analysis. The results indicate that the positive wind force distribution in the windward region affects the buckling behavior, significantly. Finally, we propose a model of wind force coefficient distribution on the tanks by modifying the distribution that we proposed for isolated tanks.

Wind buckling of tanks with conical roof considering shielding by another tank

“…Uematsu and coworkers [23,25] reported wind tunnel results on open top tanks to investigate group effects in arrangements of two, three and four tanks. The tanks had the same geometry with aspect ratios of H/D ¼0.25D, 0.5D, and 1.0D and spacings of 0.125Do So1.0D.…”

Design wind loads for open-topped storage tanks in various arrangements

“…Similar feature was observed in the present experiment with grouped tank models. Furthermore, according to Yasunaga (2013), who made a dynamic response analysis of tanks, the resonant effect on the stresses involved in the cylinder is relatively small. These features imply that design wind loads can be evaluated based on the quasi-steady principle.…”