Dynamics of Solid-Containing Tanks. II: Flexible Tanks

The analysis of the response to horizontal base shaking for solid-containing rigid tanks, described in a companion paper, is extended to flexible tanks. Simple, approximate expressions for the critical responses are formulated, and comprehensive numerical data are presented that elucidate the effects of wall flexibility over wide ranges of the parameters involved. The response quantities examined include the stresses induced on the wall, the maximum wall forces, and the forces transmitted to the foundation. In addition to long-period, effectively static excitations, harmonic motions of arbitrary frequency and an actual earthquake ground motion are considered. A brief account is also given of the interrelationship of the critical responses of solid-containing tanks and those induced in tanks storing a liquid of the same mass density.