Seismic Capacity and Failure Modes of Flat‐Bottom Vertical Tanks
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 119, Issue 2
Abstract
Flat‐bottom vertical storage tanks are vital components in nuclear power plant safety systems. Potential failure modes of such tanks due to earthquake ground motion and current methods available to evaluate the seismic capacities of tanks against these failure modes are identified. Substantial data on tank failure modes, seismic response, and seismic capacity are cited. These data are distinguished into three types: (1) Earthquake experience data from the performance of tanks in actual earthquakes; (2) test data from laboratory specimens or tanks in the field; and (3) analytical data from theoretical derivations or analyses. It is concluded that these data provide clear guidance on probable failure modes. Limited analyses have been performed to benchmark current seismic evaluation methods for tanks against test and earthquake experience data. In general, these studies demonstrate that current analytical evaluation methods provide sufficiently accurate means to predict the seismic capacities of flat‐bottom tanks at nuclear power plants.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Akiyama, N., and Yamaguchi, H. (1988). “Experimental study of lift‐off behavior of flexible cylindrical tank.” Proc., 9th World Conf. on Earthquake Engrg., Maruzen Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, 655–660.
2.
ANSI/AWWA D100‐84; AWWA standard for welded steel tanks for water storage. (1984). American Water Works Association (AWWA), Denver, Colo.
3.
API standard 650; welded steel tanks for oil storage. (1988). American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C.
4.
“The April 22, 1991 Valle de la Estrella Costa Rica earthquake.” (1991). Rep., EQE Int., San Francisco, Calif.
5.
Auli, W., Fischer, F. D., and Rammerstorfer, F. G. (1985). “Uplifting of earthquake‐loaded liquid‐filled tanks.” Fluid‐structure dynamics, PVP 98‐7, ASME, New York, N.Y., 71–85.
6.
“Buckling of thin‐walled circular cylinders.” (1968). Report No. NASA SP‐8007, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Washington, D.C.
7.
Budnitz, R. J., Amico, P. J., Cornell, C. A., Hall, W. J., Kennedy, R. P., Reed, J. W., and Shinozuka, M. (1985). “An approach to the quantification of seismic margins in nuclear power plants.” Rep. NUREG/CR‐4334, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
8.
Butler, T. A., Bennett, J. G., Babcock, C. D., and Natsiavas, S. (1987). “Response of seismic category I tanks to earthquake excitation.” Rep. NUREG/CR‐4776, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
9.
Cambra, F. J. (1982). “Earthquake response considerations of broad liquid storage tanks.” Rep. UCB/EERC‐82/25, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
10.
Campbell, R. D., Ravindra, M. K., and Murray, R. C. (1988). “Compilation of fragility information from available probabilistic risk assessments.” Rep. UCID‐20571, Revision 1, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, Calif.
11.
Chang, T. Y. (1980). “Seismic qualification of equipment in operating nuclear power plants, unresolved safety issue A‐46.” U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
12.
Chen, G. (1984). “Why the elephant's foot phenomenon of liquid storage tank happened.” Proc., 8th World Conf. on Earthquake Engrg., Prentice‐Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 445–452.
13.
Clough, D. P. (1977). “Experimental evaluation of seismic design methods for broad cylindrical tanks.” Rep. UCB/EERC‐77/10, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
14.
Clough, R. W., and Niwa, A. (1979). “Static tilt tests of a tall cylindrical liquid storage tank.” Rep. UCB/EERC‐79/06, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
15.
Coats, D. W. (1980). “Recommended revisions to Nuclear Regulatory Commission seismic design criteria.” Rep. NUREG/CR‐1161, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
16.
Duke, C. M., Escalante, L. E., Mieding, J. P., and Tazaki, T. (1980). “Damage to lifelines, Imperial Valley earthquake of October, 15, 1979.” Reconnaissance Rep., Imperial County, California, Earthquake, October 15, 1979, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, El Cerrito, Calif.
17.
“The effects of the April 24, 1984 Morgan Hill earthquake on industrial facilities.” (1984). Rep., Seismic Qualification Utility Group and EQE Inc., San Francisco, Calif.
18.
“The effects of the March 3, 1985 Chile earthquake on power and industrial facilities.” (1986). Seismic Qualification Utility Group and EQE Inc., San Francisco, Calif.
19.
Fujita, K., Ito, T., and Wada, H. (1990). “Experimental study on the dynamic buckling of cylindrical shell due to seismic excitation.” Flow‐structure vibration and sloshing, ASME, New York, N.Y.
20.
Gates, W. E. (1980). “Elevated and ground‐supported steel storage tanks.” Reconnaissance Report, Imperial County, California, Earthquake, October 15, 1979, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, El Cerrito, Calif., 65–83.
21.
“Generic implementation procedure (GIP) for seismic verification of nuclear plant equipment.” (1991). Rep., Seismic Qualification Utility Group and Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, Calif.
22.
Haroun, M. A. (1980). “Dynamic analyses of liquid storage tanks.” Rep. EERL 80‐04, Earthquake Engineering Research Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.
23.
Haroun, M. A. (1983). “Behavior of unanchored oil storage tanks: Imperial Valley, earthquake.” J. Tech. Topics in Civ. Engrg., ASCE, 109(1), 23–40.
24.
Haroun, M. A., Badawi, H. S., and Bains, G. P. (1990). “Static uplift analyses of unanchored tanks.” Proc., 4th U.S. Nat. Conf. on Earthquake Engrg., Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, El Cerrito, Calif., 157–166.
25.
Haroun, M. A., and Housner, G. W. (1980). “A procedure for seismic design of liquid storage tanks.” Rep. EERL 80‐5, Earthquake Engineering Research Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.
26.
Haroun, M. A., and Housner, G. W. (1981). “Seismic design of liquid storage tanks.” J. Tech. Councils of ASCE, ASCE, 107(1), 191–207.
27.
Haroun, M. A., Mourad, S. A., and Abou‐Izzeddine, W. (1991). “Performance of liquid storage tanks during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.” Lifeline Earthquake Engrg., ASCE, New York, N.Y., 1152–1161.
28.
Haroun, M. A., and Tayel, M. A. (1984). “Dynamic behavior of cylindrical liquid storage tanks under vertical earthquake excitation.” Proc., 8th World Conf. on Earthquake Engrg., Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, El Cerrito, Calif., 421–428.
29.
Hashimoto, P. S., and Tiong, L. W. (1989). “Earthquake experience data on anchored, ground‐mounted vertical storage tanks.” Rep. EPRI NP‐6276, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, Calif.
30.
Ishida, K., and Kobayashi, N. (1988). “An effective method of analyzing rocking motion for unanchored cylindrical tanks including uplift.” J. Pressure Vessel Technol., 110, 76–87.
31.
Jennings, P. C. (1971). “Engineering features of the San Fernando earthquake of February 9, 1971.” Rep. EERL 71‐02, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.
32.
Jhaveri, D. P. (1991). “Seismic verification of nuclear plant equipment anchorage— Vol. 4: guidelines on tanks and heat exchangers.” EPRI NP‐5228, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, Calif.
33.
Kana, D. D. (1979). “Seismic response of flexible cylindrical liquid storage tanks.” Nuclear Engrg. and Design, 52(1), 185–199.
34.
Kennedy, R. P., and Kassawara, R. P. (1989). “Seismic evaluation of large flat‐bottomed tanks.” 2nd Symp. Current Issues Related to Nuclear Power Plant Struct., Equipment, and Piping with Emphasis on Resolution of Seismic Issues in Low‐Seismicity Regions; EPRI NP‐6437‐D, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, Calif., 4‐354‐56.
35.
Kennedy, R. P., Murray, R. C., Ravindra, M. K., Reed, J. W., and Stevenson, J. D. (1989). “Assessment of seismic margin calculation methods.” Rep. NUREG/CR‐5270, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
36.
Kennedy, R. P., and Ravindra, M. K. (1984). “Seismic fragilities for nuclear power plant risk studies.” Nuclear Engrg. and Design, 79(1), 47–68.
37.
Kustu, O. (1980). “Damage at two wineries due to the Mt. Diablo, California, earthquake of January 24, 1980.” Earthquake Engr. Res. Inst. Newsletter, 43–46.
38.
“Loma Prieta Earthquake October 17, 1989—preliminary reconnaissance report.” (1989). Rep., Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, El Cerrito, Calif.
39.
“Managua, Nicaragua earthquake of December 23, 1972.” (1973). Conf., Proc., Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, San Francisco, Calif., 774–775.
40.
Manos, G. C. (1986). “Dynamic response of a broad storage tank model under a variety of simulated earthquake motions.” Proc., 3rd U.S. Nat. Conf. on Earthquake Engrg., Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, El Cerrito, Calif., 2131–2142.
41.
Manos, G. C. (1986). “Earthquake tank‐wall stability of unanchored tanks.” J. Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 112(8), 1863–1880.
42.
Manos, G. C. (1990). “Testing of cylindrical liquid‐storage tank scaled models subjected to lateral loads.” Rep. PVP‐191, ASME, New York, N.Y.
43.
Manos, G. C., and Clough, R. W. (1982). “Further study of the earthquake response of a broad cylindrical liquid storage tank model.” Rep. UCB/EERC‐82/07, Earthquake Engineering Res. Center, University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
44.
Manos, G. C., and Clough, R. W. (1983). “The measured and predicted shaking table response of a broad tank.” PVP Vol. 77, ASME, New York, N.Y., 69–77.
45.
Manos, G. C., and Clough, R. W. (1985). “Tank damage during the May 1983 Coalinga earthquake.” Earthquake Engrg. and Struct. Dynamics, 13, 449–466.
46.
Manos, G. C., Shibata, H., and Shigeta, T. (1989). “Correlation of cylindrical tank wall buckling with an earthquake motion recorded at a small distance from the tank.” Earthquake Engrg. and Struct. Dynamics, 18, 169–184.
47.
Manos, G. C., and Talaslidis, D. (1988). “Response of cylindrical tanks subjected to lateral loads—correlation between analytical and experimental results.” Proc., 9th World Conf. on Earthquake Engrg., Maruzen Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, 667–672.
48.
Marchaj, T. J. (1979). “Importance of vertical acceleration in the design of liquid containing tanks.” Proc., 2nd U.S. Nat. Conf. on Earthquake Engrg., Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, El Cerrito, Calif., 146–155.
49.
Meehan, J. F. (1973). “Managua, Nicaragua earthquake of December 23, 1972.” Rep., Earthquake Engineering Institute, El Cerrito, Calif.
50.
“A methodology for assessment of nuclear power plant seismic margin.” (1991). Rep. EPRI NP‐6041, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, Calif.
51.
Moore, T. A. (1981). “The response of cylindrical liquid storage tanks to earthquakes.” Proc., Conf. on Large Earthquakes, New Zealand National Society for Earthquake Engineering, Napier, New Zealand.
52.
Mourad, S. A., and Haroun, M. A. (1990). “Experimental modal analysis of cylindrical liquid‐filled tanks.” Proc., 4th U.S. Nat. Conf. on Earthquake Engrg., Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, El Cerrito, Calif., 3, 177–186.
53.
“The New Zealand earthquake of March 2, 1987: effects on electric power and industrial facilities.” (1989). Rep. EPRI NP‐6593, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, Calif.
54.
Nielsen, R., and Kiremidjian, A. S. (1986). “Damage to oil refineries from major earthquakes.” J. Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 112(6), 1481–1491.
55.
Niwa, A. (1978). “Seismic behavior of tall liquid storage tanks.” Rep. UCB/EERC‐78/04, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
56.
Niwa, A., and Clough, R. W. (1982). “Buckling of cylindrical liquid storage tanks under earthquake loading.” Earthquake Engrg. Struct. Dynamics, 10, 107–122.
57.
“Nuclear reactors and earthquakes.” (1963). Rep. TID‐7024, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), Washington, D.C., 183–209, 367–390.
58.
“The October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake—a quick look report.” (1989). Rep., EQE Engineering, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.
59.
Peek, R. (1986). “Analysis of unanchored liquid storage tanks under seismic loads.” Rep. EERL 86‐01, Earthquake Engineering Research Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.
60.
Peek, R., and Jennings, P. C. (1988). “Simplified analysis of unanchored tanks.” Earthquake Engrg. and Struct. Dynamics, 16, 1073–1085.
61.
Pender, M. J., and Robertson, T. W. (Eds.) (1987). “Edgecombe earthquake: reconnaissance report.” Bull. New Zealand Nat. Soc. Earthquake Engrg., 20(3), 201–239.
62.
“The performance of industrial facilities and their equipment in the Coalinga, California, earthquake of May 2, 1983.” (1984). Seismic Qualification Utilities Group and EQE Inc., San Francisco, Calif.
63.
Poland, C. D. (1980). “Livermore California earthquake of January 24, 1980, Sandia Laboratories.” Earthquake Engrg. Res. Inst. Newsletter, 51–52.
64.
Ravindra, M. K., Hardy, G. S., Hashimoto, P. S., and Griffin, M. J. (1987). “Seismic margin review of the Maine Yankee atomic power station—Fragility analysis.” Rep. NUREG/CR‐4826, Vol. 3, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
65.
“Report on observations—earthquake of May 2, 1983, Coalinga, California.” (1983). Rep., H. J. Degenkolb and Associates, Engineers, San Francisco, Calif.
66.
Rinne, J. E. (1967). “Oil storage tanks.” The Prince William Sound, Alaska, earthquake of 1964 and aftershocks; Vol. II‐A, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D.C., 245–252.
67.
Rotter, J. M. (1985). “Local inelastic collapse of pressurized thin cylindrical steel shells under axial compression.” Res. Rep. No. R502, Univ. of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
68.
Murphy, L. M. (1973). “San Fernando, California, earthquake of February 9, 1971.” U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin., Washington, D.C., Vol. II, 135–147.
69.
Sakai, F., and Isoe, A. (1989). “Big‐scaled tilt test on uplifting behavior of oil storage tanks.” Seismic engineering: research and practice, ASCE, New York, N.Y., 438–447.
70.
Sakai, F., Isoe, A., Hirakawa, H., and Mentani, Y. (1987). “Experimental study on up‐lift behavior of large‐sized cylindrical liquid storage tanks.” Proc., Pressure Vessel and Piping Conf., PVP‐127, ASME, New York, N.Y.
71.
Sakai, F., Isoe, A., Hirakawa, H., and Mentani, Y. (1988). “Experimental study on uplifting behavior of flat‐based liquid storage tanks without anchors.” Proc., 9th World Conf. on Earthquake Engrg., Maruzen Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, Vol. VI, 649–654.
72.
Shih, C. F. (1981). “Failure of liquid storage tanks due to earthquake excitation.” Rep. EERL 81‐04, Earthquake Engineering Research Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.
73.
Standard 4‐86; seismic analysis of safety‐related nuclear structures and commentary on standard for seismic analysis of safety related nuclear structures. (1986). ASCE, New York, N.Y.
74.
Veletsos, A. S. (1984). “Seismic response and design of liquid storage tanks.” Guidelines for the seismic design of oil and gas pipeline systems, ASCE, New York, N.Y., 255–370.
75.
Veletsos, A. S., and Kumar, A. (1984). “Dynamic response of vertically excited liquid storage tanks.” Proc., 8th World Conf. on Earthquake Engrg., Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, El Cerrito, Calif., Vol. VII, 453–460.
76.
Veletsos, A. S., and Tang, Y. (1986). “Dynamics of vertically excited liquid storage tanks.” J. Struct. Engrg., ASCE, 112(6), 1228–1246.
77.
Veletsos, A. S., and Tang, Y. (1989). “The effects of soil‐structure interaction on laterally excited liquid‐storage tanks.” Rep. EPRI NP‐6500, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, Calif.
78.
Veletsos, A. S., and Tang, Y. (1990). “Soil‐structure interaction effects for laterally excited liquid storage tanks.” Earthquake Engrg. and Struct. Dynamics, 19, 473–496.
79.
Veletsos, A. S., and Yang, J. Y. (1976). “Dynamics of fixed‐base liquid storage tanks.” Proc., U.S.‐Japan Seminar for Earthquake Engrg. Res. With Emphasis on Lifeline Systems, Tokyo, Japan, 317–341.
80.
Weingarten, V. I., Morgan, E. J., and Seide, P. (1965a). “Elastic stability of thin‐walled cylindrical and conical shells under axial compression.” AIAA J., 3(2), 500–505.
81.
Weingarten, V. I., Morgan, E. J., and Seide, P. (1965b). “Elastic stability of thin‐walled cylindrical and conical shells under combined internal pressure and axial compression.” AIAA J., 3(6), 1118–1125.
82.
Yamamoto, S. (1979). “Structural analysis and seismic design of oil storage tanks. Proc., 3rd Nat. Congress on Pressure Vessel and Piping Technol., ASME, New York, N.Y.
83.
Yanev, P. I., ed. (1980). “Miyagi‐Ken‐Oki, Japan earthquake, June 12, 1978.” Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, El Cerrito, Calif.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 119 • Issue 2 • August 1993
Pages: 82 - 100
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 16, 1992
Published online: Aug 1, 1993
Published in print: Aug 1993
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.