ANALYSIS OF CYLINDRICAL WATER TANKS- WIND OR

EARTHQUAKE
1

CHINTHA. RAVICHANDRA, 2R. K. INGLE

M.Tech Student Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur,

2
Professor Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur
Email: 1chintha.ravichandra007@gmail.com, 2rkingle@rediffmail.com

Abstract Most of the time designer takes decision to consider either wind or earthquake load for design of staging for
Elevated Service Reservoir (ESR) based on his experience; to save some calculations. This paper aims at providing governing
load case for ESR i.e. whether wind or earthquake force is governing. Earthquake analysis is done according to IS 1893 Part
I & II, Wind analysis is done according to IS 875-1987 (Part III) & IS 875 draft (Part III). In this paper ESR of staging height
12m is considered with capacity varying from 20 m3 to 100 m3. Analysis has been done using SAP-2000. Three types of soil
conditions, namely soft, medium, hard and seismic zones, Zone-II, Zone-III, Zone-IV and Zone V are considered. Wind
analysis is done for wind speeds of 39 m/s, 44 m/s, 47m/s and 50m/s. The results have been presented in terms of graphs,
showing leading load case for staging design.
Index TermsWind static analysis, Wind dynamic analysis, Earthquake analysis, Equivalent point load, Response reduction
factor

I. INTRODUCTION
The design of ESR staging is of prime importance as it
is the main cause of failure in most of the cases. So the
adverse effects due to natural calamities like
earthquake or cyclone need to be given due
consideration. Seismic force considered to be acting at
the center of mass of tank, due to the heavy mass at top
in ESR and it acts at mid height of container. Wind
force varies with height of tank, so those are applied at
the center of each bracing level and at center of
container. To determine the governing load case
equivalent point load for wind loading is calculated
and then compared with seismic forces. This
comparison is used to indicate predominant Load case
i.e. earthquake or wind.
II. EQUIVALENT POINT LOAD FOR THREE
PANEL
Fig. 1: ESR Staging Line Plan.

To calculate equivalent point load (Peqv) moment at

top of foundation level is considered (Refer Fig .1).
Moment due to Wind Load at base

II. PROBLEM FORMULATION

In order to find out the governing load case Nine tanks
of capacity 20 m3 to 100 m3 have considered in this
paper with staging height 12m. Three types of soil:
Soft, Medium, And Hard are considered, and depth of
foundation is varied i.e. 3m (Soft), 2.5m (medium) &
2m (hard). So now totally 27 tanks are analyzed in
SAP-2000 to obtain Stiffness for calculation of wind
and earthquake forces. Static Wind forces have been
calculated when frequency > 1 Hz, in remaining cases
dynamic wind forces have been calculated. Dynamic
wind force can be calculated by IS 875-1987 (Part III)
& IS 875 draft (Part III). However in this paper IS

Equating both moments,

Proceedings of 25th IRF International Conference, 10th May 2015, Chennai, India, ISBN: 978-93-85465-11-6
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Analysis Of Cylindrical Water Tanks- Wind Or Earthquake

875-1987 (Part III) code is used. Seismic forces are

calculated as per IS 1893 (Part I & II).
The data considered in analyzing the tank is given in I
& II.
I: Data of ESR

Fig. 3: ESR Mathematical model

IV.
II: Data of ESR

DETERMINATION OF GOVERNING
LOAD CASE

The comparison of wind and earthquake forces are

shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 15.

Thickness of wall, Thickness of roof slab, free board

are maintained constant for all capacities of tanks
respectively i.e. 200mm, 125mm, and 300mm.
Earthquake forces are calculated by considering
Response reduction factor (R) =4. Wind forces are
calculated for wind speeds of 39 m/s, 44 m/s, 47 m/s
and 50 m/s. Fig.2 is showing a typical ESR
configuration and the mathematical model in extrude
view, is shown in Fig.3.

Fig. 4: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,

Vb= 39 m/s, Tank Full & Soft Soil for R=4

As observed from Fig.4, in zone II wind load governs

the design. In zone III up to 40m3 capacity seismic
load, from 40 to 70 m3 capacity wind load and above
seismic load governs the design. In all other cases
seismic load governs the design.

Fig. 5: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,

Vb= 44 m/s, Tank Full & Soft Soil for R=4

Fig. 2: ESR Configuration

Proceedings of 25th IRF International Conference, 10th May 2015, Chennai, India, ISBN: 978-93-85465-11-6
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Analysis Of Cylindrical Water Tanks- Wind Or Earthquake

From Fig.5, it is observed that in zone IV and above

seismic load governs the design, in all other cases
wind load governs the design.

As observed from Fig.8, in zone II & III wind load

governs the design, in all other cases seismic load
governs the design.

Fig. 6: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,

Vb= 47 m/s, Tank Full & Soft Soil for R=4

Fig. 9: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,

Vb= 44 m/s, Tank Full & Medium Soil for R=4

As seen from Fig.6, in zone V seismic load governs

the design. In zone IV up to 40m3 capacity seismic
load, from 40 to 70 m3 capacity wind load and above
seismic load governs the design. In all other cases
wind load governs the design.

From Fig.9, in zone V seismic load governs the

design. In zone IV up to 40m3 capacity seismic load,
from 40 to 70 m3 capacity wind load and above seismic
load governs the design. In all other cases wind load
governs the design.

Fig. 10: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,

Vb= 47 m/s, Tank Full & Medium Soil for R=4

Fig. 7: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,

Vb= 50 m/s, Tank Full & Soft Soil for R=4

As seen from Fig.10, in zone V seismic load governs

the design. In zone IV up to 40m3 capacity wind load
and above seismic load governs the design. In all other
cases wind load governs the design.

While seeing Fig.7, it is observed that in zone V

seismic load governs the design. In zone IV up to
40m3 capacity wind load and above seismic load
governs the design. In all other cases wind load
governs the design.

Fig. 8: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,

Vb= 39 m/s, Tank Full & Medium Soil for R=4

Fig. 11: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,

Vb= 50 m/s, Tank Full & Medium Soil for R=4

Proceedings of 25th IRF International Conference, 10th May 2015, Chennai, India, ISBN: 978-93-85465-11-6
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Analysis Of Cylindrical Water Tanks- Wind Or Earthquake

While seeing Fig.11, it is observed that in zone V up to

40m3 capacity seismic load, from 40 to 70 m3 capacity
wind load and above seismic load governs the design.
In all other cases wind load governs the design.

other cases wind load governs the design.

Fig. 15: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,

Vb= 50 m/s, Tank Full & Hard Soil for R=4
Fig. 12: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,
Vb= 39 m/s, Tank Full & Hard Soil for R=4

From Fig.15, it is observed that in zone V up to 40m3

capacity seismic load and above wind load governs the
design. In all other cases wind load governs the
design.

As observed from Fig.12, in zone V seismic load

governs the design. In zone IV up to 40m3 capacity
seismic load, from 40 to 70 m3 capacity wind load and
above seismic load governs the design. In all other
cases wind load governs the design.

CONCLUSION
Based on above study, following are few conclusions.
1) In all the three types of soil conditions, up to 30
m3 capacity static wind load is governing, in all
other cases dynamic wind load is governing.
2) Dynamic wind load as per IS 875-1987 (Part III)
is giving higher forces compared to the IS 875
draft (Part III).
3) For soft soil the effect of wind force for 50 m/s
wind speed is quite significant as compared with
the earthquake forces in Zone II, III, and IV.
4) In medium soil for wind speeds 47, 50 m/s is more
effective as compared with the earthquake forces
in Zone II, III, and IV.
5) For hard soil with wind speeds of 47, 50 m/s is
more significant as compared with the earthquake
forces in Zone II, III, IV, and V.

Fig. 13: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,

Vb= 44 m/s, Tank Full & Hard Soil for R=4

The results presented in this paper can be utilized in

deciding the governing load case for design of staging.
However results are based on data (structural)
considered and may vary with different sizes and
configuration.
NOMENCLATURE
Di = internal diameter of the tank
Hw = height of water
Tbs = thickness of base slab
B = width of bottom beam
D = depth of bottom beam
Dia = diameter of column
B1 = width of brace

Fig. 14: Seismic and Wind Loads on ESR for Ht =12m,

Vb= 47 m/s, Tank Full & Hard Soil for R=4

As seen from Fig.13 and Fig.14, in zone V up to 40m3

capacity seismic load, from 40 to 70 m3 capacity wind
load and above seismic load governs the design. In all

Proceedings of 25th IRF International Conference, 10th May 2015, Chennai, India, ISBN: 978-93-85465-11-6
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Analysis Of Cylindrical Water Tanks- Wind Or Earthquake

[3]

D1 = depth of brace
Lb = length of brace

[4]

REFERENCES
[1]

[2]

G.W. Housner, The Dynamic Behaviour of Water Tanks,

Bulletin of the seismological society of America, Vol.53,No.2,
pp.381-387
Is 1893, Part I, Criteria for earthquake resistant design of
structures: Part 1 general provisions and buildings, Bureau of
Indian Standards, New Delhi, 2002.

[5]

[6]

IS 1893, Part II, Criteria for Earthquake Resistant design of

Structures: Part 2 Liquid Retaining Tanks Elevated and
Ground Supported, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi,
2006.
IS 875, Code of practice for design loads (other than earthquake)
for Buildings and Structures Part 3 Wind Loads, Bureau of
Indian Standards, New Delhi, 1987
J. A. Munshi, N.A. Legatos, Seismic design of liquid containing
concrete structures as per ACI standard 350.3, Portland Cement
Association.
Ingle, R.K., Codal Provisions for Wind Effects on Elevated
Water Towers, Proceedings of Second National Conference on
Wind Engineering (NCWE-04), Nagpur, India.

Proceedings of 25th IRF International Conference, 10th May 2015, Chennai, India, ISBN: 978-93-85465-11-6
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