Design of Rectangular Concrete Tanks

Approximate Analysis
The Islamic University of Gaza
Department of Civil Engineering
Design of Rectangular Concrete Tanks
In closed rectangular tanks with sliding base,
the full water pressure is resisted horizontally
Deep Tanks
Where H/L>2 and H/B >2
The effect of fixation of the wall will be limited to a
small part at the base
The rest of the wall will resist water pressure
horizontally by closed frame action
H
L
B
(3/4H)
H
Deep Tanks: Square sections
It is assumed that the maximum internal pressure take
place at H from the top or 1m from the bottom
whichever greater
2
2
atsupport
12
atcenter
24
C
m
pL
M
pL
M
=
=
Dire
2
3
4
ctTension:
Where:
pL
T
p H
=
=
Mc
Mm
For rectangular tank in which L/B<2 or the tanks are
designed as continuous frame subjected to maximum
pressure at H/4 from the bottom
The bottom H/4 is designed as a cantilever
Mc
M1m
M2m
L
B
(3/4H)
H
Deep Tanks: Rectangular sections
It is assumed that the maximum internal pressure take
place at H from the top
( )
( )
2 2
2
1
2 2
atsupport
12
8
2 2
24
C
m c
p
M L LB B
pL
M M
p
L LB B
= +
= +
= +
Mc
M1m
M2m
L
B
Deep Tanks: Rectangular sections
( )
2
2 2
2
2 2
8 24
m c
pB p
M M B LB L = + = +
Direct Tension in long Wall
Direct Tension in short Wall
Where
2
3

2
:
4
pB
T
pL
T
p H
=
=
=
Deep Tanks: Rectangular sections
For rectangular tank in which L/B>2
The long wall are designed as a cantilever
The short walls as a slab fixed supported on the long walls
The bottom H/4 portion of the short wall is designed as a
cantilever.
Deep Tanks: Rectangular sections
Deep Tanks with L/B >2
3
For Long Wall
Dire
6
3
4
ctT
2
3
n
2
ensio
4
base
H
M
B
T H
B
T H

=
| || |
=
| |
\ .\ .
| || |
=
| |
\ .\ .
R=H/2
M=H
3
/6
H
Deep Tanks: Rectangular sections
Deep Tanks with L/B >2
2
sup
2
3
3
4 12
3
4 24
1 1
2 4
For Short Wall
a) Horizontal Moment
a) Vertical Moment
96

3 4
port
center
H B
M
H B
M
H H H
M H

| |
| |
=
| |
\ .
\ .
| |
| |
=
| |
\ .
\ .
| || |
= =
| |
\ .\ .
wH
2
/12
+
-
wH
2
/24
(3/4H)
H
Deep Tanks: Rectangular sections
Deep Tanks with L/B >2
Direct Tension
It is assumed that the end one meter width of the long wall
contribute to direct tension on the short wall
( )
Direct Tension Short Wall
1 T H =
Deep Tanks: Rectangular sections
B) Shallow Tanks
Where H/L and H/B <1/2
The water pressure is resisted by vertical action as follows:
a) Cantilever walls
Wall fixed to the floor and free at top may act as simple
cantilever walls (suitable for H<3 m)
Tension in the floor = Reaction at the base
Free cantilever of height H and supported on the two sides of
their length L must be treated as a slab supported on three
sides (if L<4 H)
R=H/2
M=H
3
/6
H
B) Shallow Tanks
b) Wall simply supported at top and fixed at Bottom
Wall act as one way slab and resist water pressure in vertical
direction (suitable for H<4.5 m)
R=0.4H
M=H
3
/15
H
R=0.1H
H
3
/15
H
3
/33.5
+
B) Shallow Tanks
c) Wall fixed at top and fixed at Bottom
R=0.35H
M=H
3
/20
H
R=0.15H
M=H
3
/20
M=H
3
/20
M=H
3
/20
H
3
/46.6
+
-
C) Medium Moderate Tanks
In moderate or medium tanks where
The water pressure is resisted by vertical and horizontal action
Different approximate methods is used to determine the
internal distribution Some of them:
a) Approach 1: Deep tank action
b) Approach 2: Strip method (coefficient method)
c) General theory of flat plate.
0.5 & 2
H H
L B
s s
C) Medium Moderate Tanks
Approach 1: Deep tank action
For rectangular tank in which L/B<2 or if L/H<2 the tanks are
designed as continuous frame subjected to maximum
pressure at H/4 from the bottom
The bottom H/4 is designed as a cantilever
Mc
M1m
M2m
L
B
(3/4H)
H
C) Medium Moderate Tanks
Approach 1: Deep tank action
For rectangular tank in which L/B>2
The long wall are designed as a cantilever
The short walls as a slab fixed supported on the long walls
The bottom H/4 portion of the short wall is designed as a
cantilever.
C) Medium Moderate Tanks
Approach 2: The Strip Method
This method gives approximate solution for
rectangular flat plates of constant thickness,
supported in four sides and subjected to uniform
hydrostatic pressure
Walls and floors supported on four sides and
having L/B<2 are treated as two-way slabs.
Grashof, Marcus, or Egyptian code coefficient can
be used to evaluate loads transferred in each
direction.
C) Medium Moderate Tanks
Approach 2: The Strip Method
Load distribution of two-way slabs subjected to triangular
loading is approximately the same as uniform load.
p=p
v
+ p
h
Where:
p: hydrostatic pressure at specific depth
p
v
: Pressure resisted in the vertical direction
p
h
: Pressure resisted in the horizontal direction
Pv
Ph
H/4
3H/4
C) Medium Moderate Tanks
Approach 2: The Strip Method
The fixed Moment at bottom due to pressure resisted
vertically
The shear at a
The shear at b is evaluated from equilibrium
The moments due to horizontal pressure are evaluated as
discussed before at (3H/4)
2 2
15 117
f V h
H H
M P P
| |
= +
|
\ .
10 540
v h
H H
Ra P P = +
Pv
Ph
H/4
3H/4
a
b
Ra
Design of section subjected to eccentric load
If the resultant stress on the liquid side is compression the
section is to be designed as ordinary RC cracked section
If the resultant stress on the liquid side is tension the
section must have
Adequate resistance of cracking
Adequate strength
+ve for tension
-ve for compression
'
2
6
2
r
c
My N
f
I bt
M N
f
bt bt
s
s
Design of section subjected to eccentric tension
Reinforcement for direct tension can be added to
reinforcement required to resist bending using strength
design method.
( )
'
u u u
M M P e =
P
u
M
u
P
u
M
u
e
Example 1

0.5 & 2
/ 6/ 5 1.2 2
H H
L B
L B
s s
= = <
5m
6m
The tank is moderate tank and we will apply the deep
tank approach
The tank walls are designed as continuous frame
subjected to pressure varying from zero at the top to max.
at H/4. The lower H/4 is designed as cantilever
Example 1
( ) ( )
( )
( )( )
( )( )
2 2 2 2
2 2
1
6 6 5 5 2.583
12 12
3/ 4
2.583 3/ 4 3.4 6.59 . /
6
2.583 1.917 4.89 . /
8 8
Directtension in the Wall
3
4 2
3 5
1 3.4 6.375 /
4 2
C
c
m c
p p
M L LB B p
p H
M t m m
pL p
M M p p t m m
B
T H
T t m
LongWall

= + = + =
=
= =
= + = = =
| || |
=
| |
\ .\ .
| |
= =
|
\ .
Mc
M1m
M2m
5m
6m
Example 1
( )( )
2 2
2
6.59 . /
5
2.583 0.542 1.38 . /
8 8
Directtension in the Wall
3
4 2
3 6
1 3.4 7.6
Sho
5
rtWa
/
4
l
2
l
c
m c
M t m m
pL p
M M p p t m m
L
T H
T t m

=
= + = = =
| || |
=
| |
\ .\ .
| |
= =
|
\ .
Mc
M1m
M2m
5m
6m
Example 1
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
2
2
5
2
2
5
Check the Wall thickness against cracking
t=40cm
In long wa
Let wall
6
2 300 34.6 /
6 6.59 10
6.375 1000
26.3 /
40 100
1
ll:
In short
00 40
6 6.59 10
7.65 1000
40 10
wall:
0
100 4
tb tb
tb tb
tb
T M
f f kg cm
bt bt
f kg cm f
f
= + = =

= + = <

= +

( )
2
2
26.6 /
0
tb
kg cm f = <
Example 1
2
'
40 5 0.7 34.3
5 .7 14.3
2
6.375 1000 1.7 1.65
4.73 /
0.9 4200
14.3
6.59 1.7 1.3 6.37 1.7 1.3
10
Direct tension reinf.
a) Horizontal Reinf. -ve. moment r
0
einf.
Long Wall Reinforcement
s
y
u
d cm
h
e cm
T
A cm m
f
M
|
= =
= =

= = =

=
( )
( ) ( )
5
2
2
12.55 . /
2.6110 12.55
0.85 300
1 1 0.00288
4200
100 34.3 300
0.00288 100 34.3 9.88 /
st
t m m
A cm m

=
| |

|
= =
|
\ .
= =
d=34.3cm
40cm
e=14.3
Example 1
( )
( ) ( )
'
5
2
2
2
14.3
4.89 1.7 1.3 6.37 1.7 1.3 8.79 . /
100
2.6110 8.79
0.85 300
1 1 0.002
4200
100 34.3 300
0.002 100 34.3 6.86 /
+ve. moment reinf.
Insiderein 9.88 4.73 14.61 / 16 f.
Outiderei
@12.5
nf
u
st
M t m m
A cm m
cm m cm

|
= =
| |

|
= =
|
\ .
= =
= + =
2
6.86 4.73 11.59 / 14 . @12.5 cm m cm | = + =
Example 1
( )
( )
( ) ( )
'
5
min
2
2
,min
0.85
1.7 1.3 0.5 3.4 0.85 0.9 . /
3
2.6110 0.9
0.85 300
1 1 0.00022
4200
100 34.3 300
0.0006 100
b) Verti
40 2.4 /
use5 8mm/m for insideand outsidev
cal rein
ertical rein
f
.
.
f
u
st
M t m m
A cm m

|
| |
= =
|
\ .
| |

|
= = <
|
\ .
= =
(3/4H)
3.4
0.85
2.55
Example 1
2
'
min
,min
Direct tension reinf.
a) Horizontal Reinf.
+ve. moment reinf
7.65 1000 1.7 1.65
5.67 /
0.9 4200
14.3
1.38 1.7 1.3 7.65 1.7 1.3 0.63 . /
100
0.00014
0.00
.
Short Wall Reinforcement
s
y
u
st
T
A cm m
f
M t m m
A
|


= = =

= =
= <
=
2
2
06 100 40 2.4 /
Outsidehorizontal reinf.= 2.4+5.67=8.07 / 12@12.5
use5 8mm/m for insideandoutside vertical reinf.
b) Vertical Reinf.
cm m
cm m use cm |
|
=
d=34.3cm
40cm
e=14.3
Example 2

/ 11.25/ 5 2.25 2 L B = = >

5m
6m
The long walls are designed as a cantilever and the short wall
as a slab fixed supported on the long walls. The bottom H/4
portion of the short wall is designed as a cantilever.
Example 2
( )
2
3
2
1 3.4
6.55 . /
6 6
3
Direct tension T= 3/ 4 3.4 5/ 2 6
Direct tension reinf.
.375
4 2
6.375 1000 1.7 1.65
4.73 /
0.9 4200
use5 8mm/m for insideando

u
Long Wall Reinforcement
base
s
y
H
M t m m
B
H ton
T
A cm m
f

|
|
= = =
| || |
= =
| |
\ .\ .

= = =

'
2
tside horizontal reinf.
6.55 1.7 1.3 14.48 . / 0.00334
0.00334 100 34.3 11.45
a) Vertical R
/ 14@12.5
einf.
u
st
M t m m
A cm m use cm

|
= = =
= =
Example 2
2
2
support
2
2
3
2
3
3/ 4 3.4 5 /12 5.31. /
4 12
3
3/ 4 3.4 5 / 24 2.65 . /
4 24
3.4 / 96 0.41 . /
95
Direct
Horizonta
tension T
l directio
=
n.
Short Wall Reinforcement
center
base
B
M H t m m
B
M H t m m
H
M t m m

| |
| |
= = =
| |
\ .
\ .
| |
| |
= = =
| |
\ .
\ .
= = =
( )
2
Direct tension reinf.
1 3.4
3.4 1000 1.7 1.65
2.52 /
0.9 4200
s
y
H ton
T
A cm m
f

|
=

= = =

Example 2
'
'
'
14.3
5.311.7 1.3 3.4 1.7 1.3 10.66 . /
100
14.3
2.65 1.7 1.3 3.4 1.7 1.3 4.78 . /
100
0.411.
a) Horizontal Reinf.
b) Vertical Reinf
7 1.3 0.91.
.
/
Short Wall Reinforcement
ve
ve
vertical
M t m m
M t m m
M t m m

+
= =
= =
= =
Tanks Directly Built on the Ground
In tanks directly built on the ground, three cases may exist:
Tanks on weak soils or fill
Tanks on rigid foundation
Tank on compressible soils
Tanks on Weak Soils or Fill
The stress on the soil due to the weight of the tank and water is
generally low (6t/m
2
for depth of water of 5 m), but in spite of
that fact, it is not recommended to construct a tank directly on
unconsolidated fill as this may expose the tank to differential
settlement due to nonhomogeneous nature of the fill.
Strip footing, Pile footing, or raft are possible solution depend
on the soil characteristics at variable depth.
Tanks Directly Built on the Ground
Tanks on Rigid Foundations
If we assume that a tank is supported on a rigid foundation then
the vertical reaction of the wall will be resisted by the area
beneath it, while bending moment M will deflect the floor in a
length l beyond which no deformation or bending moments are
created.
Deformation due to M will be balanced by the weight of liquid
and the floor w
2
At distance 0 2 /
24 6
wl Ml
l l M w
EI EI
= =
l
l
M
Tanks Directly Built on the Ground
Tanks on Rigid Foundations
The part length l of the floor is designed for bending moment M
plus axial tensile force equals to the reaction at the base.
The middle part of the floor slab is designed for axial tension
force with minimum thickness provide water tightness (15-
20cm) and minimum reinforcement
min
=0.0018.
Tanks Directly Built on the Ground
Tanks Directly Built on the Ground
f
1
f
2
l