3.

1 INTRODUCTION
Finite element method (FEM) is a powerful tool commonly used for analysing a broad
range of engineering problems in different real-world such as vibration, heat, fluid flow,
and other physical effects. Numerical solutions to even very complicated stress problems
can now be obtained routinely using FEA, and the method is so important that it is
employed extensively in the analysis of solids and structures and of heat transfer and
fluids.
Finite element analysis (FEA) is a computerized method for predicting. The basic
concept in the physical interpretation of the FEA is the subdivision of the mathematical
model into disjoint (non-overlapping) components of simple geometry called finite
elements or elements for short. The response of each element is expressed in terms of a
finite number of degrees of freedom characterized as the value of an unknown function,
or functions, at a set of nodal points. Finite element codes are less complicated than many
of the word processing and spreadsheet packages found on modern microcomputers.
In this study, LUSAS FEA package 14.0 was used to determine the dynamic
behavior of elevated reinforced concrete water tank for several model under El Centro,
California earthquake occurred in May 18, 1940. LUSAS Civil & Structural is a worldleading finite element analysis software application for the analysis, design and
assessment of all types of structures. The main advantages of using software to analyse
the model is it could generate the study result in a short time. Unlike the experimental
method, which will be time consuming. BoshraEltaly (2014) have conducted a research
in comparing the experimental and theoretical result of elevated water tank. Form the
research, BoshraEltaly had concluded that the measured and stimulated result values
differ by less than 5%.Thus, verification is often implemented to reinforce the reliability
of FEA result. Besides that, response-spectrum analysis (RSA), a frequency domain, is a
linear-dynamic statistical analysis method which measures the contribution from each
natural mode of vibration to indicate the likely maximum seismic response of an
essentially elastic structure.

Flow chart 3.1: Framework of Methodology

3.2 FINITE ELEMENT MODELING

The stimulation of elevated tanks is conducted through the finite element method using
LUSAS FEA software. The interest of the modelling is to examine the dynamic behavior
of elevated reinforced concrete elevated water tank by manipulated the characteristics of
the water tank.
There are two manipulated variable in this study have been focused:

Staging height
Water Level

3.2.1 Configuration of model

3.2.2 Description of the elevated water tank
An elevated cement concrete water tank which supported on a reinforced concrete frame
staging will consider in this study. There are various shape of water tank and rectangular
water tank with capacity of 1, 00,000litre is studied.The density of concrete will be
usedfck = 25kN/m3 in the study Grade of concrete and steel are M30 and Fe500.The hard
soil condition is considered in this study
For this study, the ground motion records use to stimulate water tank are obtained from
the database of El Centro, California Earthquake (1940). The earthquake occurred on
May 18th, 1940 with the magnitude of 6.9.For this earthquake, the maximum ground
acceleration is 0.32g, the maximum ground velocity is13.7m/sec and the maximum
ground displacement is 8.3in.
To examine the influence of liquid level on the mode shape of the elevated water tank,
empty tank condition and full tank condition will be applied in this study. Different water
level will have different mass exerted on the frame staging in order the foundation base.
Thus, it will get different natural frequency of the structure.
Besides that, it also studied on effect of staging height on the dynamic characteristics, the
height (L) of the frame staging are varied in three dimension which are 6m, 12m and 18m
from the foundation respectively. The foundation of the elevated water tank is assumed to
be fully fixed to the soil.

Other relevant data is tabulated in Table 3.1.

Water Tank
Specification
Capacity
1,00,000 liter
Size of Container
4m x 7m
Depth of water in Container
4m
Free Board
300mm
Roof Slab
140mm
Bottom Slab
270mm
Bottom Beam
300mm x 300mm
Column
600mm x 600mm
Depth of Footing Below Ground Level
3.0m
Distance Between Column
4m
Table 3.1: Data of Elevated Water Tank for Analysis
3.3 LUSAS FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS (FEA)
To undergo finite element analysis, there are some procedures need to carry out. The
procedures are stated as below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Create model geometry

Assign Attributes
Analysis Control
Data Collection
Verification of Result

3.3.1 Create Model Geometry

A model of elevated water tank was created based on the modelling of water tank shown
in figure 3.1with the data shown in Table 3.1.The formation of the geometry of the model
was started by forming the nodes, lines and the container of water tank also is modeled.
The model is done after defining the column, beam and dimension of the water tank.
When create the model, it is important to work in strict SI units (N, m, and kg).Care must
be taken to ensure that these units are used when specifying the parameters.
3.3.2 Assign Attributes
There are five aspects need to assign to the model: meshing, geometric, materials, support
and loading. The assignation of the attributes can be in random sequences.
3.3.2.1 Meshing

The stimulation of elevated tanks will be conducted through finite element method using
LUSAS FEA Software. For the model, the frame element named as BMS3 is used to
model beam and columns. Thin quadrilateral shell element named as QSI4 will use to
model the walls and the rectangular tanks. The nominal size of the mesh have to choose
carefully to have a high accurate analysis in a short period.
3.3.2.2 Geometric properties
Whilst in practice column sizes would vary with height and beam size vary throughout
the structure, for simplicity, all the concrete column and beam sections for the frame
staging are assumed to be a solid square. The dimension of columns and beams are as
shown in Table 3.1.
The finite element characteristics of reservoir geometry as shown in Table 3.2.

Thickness of wall

Reservoir of tank
Size

Height of Wall

0.3m

4m x 7m

4m

3.2.2.3 Material
Reinforced concrete is used for the whole structure including frame staging and body of
reservoir.
Material properties of concrete and water are listed in Table 3.3.

Kinematics

Water
Specific

Bilk Modulus

Poison

Concrete
Specific Mass

Modulus of

viscosity

Mass

(N/m2)

Ratio

(kg/m3)

Elasticity

(m2/s)
0.005

(kg/m3)
1000

2500

(N/m2)
2e10

2.2e9

0.27

3.2.2.4 Support
LUSAS provides the more common types of support by default. The model has a support
attribute contains information about the restraints to be applied to each degree of

freedom. The foundation of this model is assumed fully fixed on the ground, thus, in this
study, fixed support will be assigned to the model.
3.3.2.5 Loading
No static structural loading is required for this analysis because the spectral combination
is carried out during results processing using the results from the natural frequency
analysis which is independent of applied loading. For this study, the database of El
Centro, California earthquake 1940 will be used where the magnitude of this earthquake
is 6.9.

FIGURE 3.3: May 18, 1940 El Centro California earthquake.(A) Record of the
ground acceleration. (B) Variation of the ground velocity,v with time, obtain by
integration of (A). (C) Variation of ground displacement with time, obtained by
integration of (B)
3.3.3 Eigenvalue Analysis Control
An initial eigenvalue will be carried out due to the first stage of a spectral response
analysis involves a computational of natural modes of vibration. the solution parameters
for eigenvalue analysis are specified using an eigenvalue control dataset.
3.3.4 Data Collection

At the end of the analysis, the dynamic characteristics such as natural period (natural
frequency), characteristics displacement pattern (also known as mode shape) and modal
damping factor of the elevated water tank will be obtained. Besides, axial force diagram,
shear force diagram and bending moment diagram also will be determined. Contour
ranges and vector/diagram scales will be shown. Particularly useful for animating
construction stages, mode shapes, viewing of structural response to moving loads and
seismic events, and for investigating the spread of concrete cracking or yielded
material also can be determined.