IMPULSIVE HYDRODYNAMICS OF FLUID INSIDE A CYLIN-

DRICAL TANK AND OF FLUID SURROUNDING

A CYLINDRICAL PIER*
By LYDIK S. JACOBSEN

ABSTRACT
EFFECT~V~ hydrodynamic masses and mass moments have been calculated for the fluid
inside a cylindrical tank and outside a cylindrical pier when the base of the tank or pier
experiences an impulsive, horizontal translation.
The impulsive velocities set up in the tank have been studied with a view to extending
the analysis beyond the impulsive time interval.
Application of the analysis to a specific example has been made.

INTRODUCTION

IN CONNECTIONwith the problem of earthquake loads on partly filled cylin-

drical tanks as well as on cylindrical piers surrounded by water it is of interest
to evaluate the dynamic mass effect of the fluid. The assumptions made in
the following analysis are:
1) The tanks and piers experience translatory, impulsive, but unspecified,
ground displacements in the horizontal direction only.
2) The circular, cylindrical boundaries of the tanks and piers are not de-
formed as a consequence of their motions.
3) The fluid is incompressible and inviscid.
4) The fluid motion generated by the impulsive motion of the boundaries
is treated by simplifying the hydrodynamical equations so as to exclude the
effect of gravity waves subsequently set up.
A study of this problem was initiated many years ago by the late Professor
L. M. Hoskins of Stanford University. Professor Hoskins did not relate the
problem to the properties of Modified Bessel Functions and consequently
became involved in a large amount of computational work, Moreover, he
limited his analysis to the partly filled tank and did not consider the pier sur-
rounded by fluid.
The present study has been carried out by the author under the sponsor-
ship of the Office of Naval Research.
NOMENCLATURE
x = f(t) Displacement co6rdinate in x direction, an arbitrary function of time, L.
r, ~, z Cylindrical location co6rdinates, L, 0, L.
a Radius of cylinder, L.
h Depth of fluid inside cylinder, L.
H Depth of fluid outside cylinder, L.
* Manuscript received for publication April 11, 1949.
~189]
190 BULLETIN OF T H E S E I S M O L O G I G A L S O C I E T Y O F A M E R I C A

Velocity potential L2T-k

~1, 3 Velocity potentials inside and outside cylinder L2T -~.
R, O, Z Functions of r, 0, and z only.
Uj ?), 1/) Velocity components along x, y, z; also, L T -~.
V Resultant velocity, L T -1.
At An arbitraxily short time interval of impulse, T.
7 Mass density of fluid, M L -3.
P Impulsive pressure at a point in fluid, ML-1T -~.
n Odd integer between 1 and ~.
Jo, J1, J2 Bessel Functions of the first kind and of orders 0, 1, and 2.
Yo, Y~, Y~ Bessel Functions of the second kind and of orders 0, 1, and 2.
A~B~ Integration constants relating to odd integer terms, L.
X1, X~ Integrated hydrodynamic forces in x direction acting on cylindrical boundary
due to fluid inside and outside the cylinder, MLT--*.
m l j m2 Ratios of effective hydrodynamic masses inside and outside to the total mass
m m of fluid within a tank of depths h or H.
Vertical locations of centroids of X1 and X2, L.
M1, M~ Integrated hydrodynamic moments of X~ and X2; about z -~ 0 plane, ML~T -~.
N~, N~ Integrated hydrodynamic couples about x = 0 plane due to fluid inside and
outside the cylinder, ML~T ~.

~)ERIYATION OF VELOCITY POTENTIAL

Figure 1 shows a t a n k of radius a filled with fluid t o the level h a n d surrounded
b y fluid t o the level H. T h e surrounding fluid extends indefinitely in the hori-
zontal plane. T h e coSrdinates of a fluid element either inside or outside the
t a n k are the cylindrical coSrdinates r, 0, and z.
If the t a n k experiences a small, impulsive translation in the x direction, the
fluid, initially at rest, will be set into m o t i o n b y the tank. T h e impulsive trans-
lation of the cylindrical b o u n d a r y is given b y an unspecified function of time:

x = f(t) (1)
T h e velocity potentials, 1 inside, and 5 outside the t a n k m u s t satisfy the
equation
A2 = 0 02 + 1 0~_ 4- 1 02 02
= ---~
or r or -fi ~-; + oz 2 (2)
Assume t h a t :
~ = R O Z f ' (t) (3)
T h e b o u n d a r y conditions are:
a) W h e n z -- 0, the vertical velocity w is zero

ZV~0 = = 0 (4)
z=O

b) W h e n z -- h or z = H the pressure p is zero.

 IMPULSIVE HYDRODYNAMICS OF A FLUID 191

z I

_H_ h z

////~///~// / ~ / / /,/ / / /
Fig, 1

Since the investigation is limited to an impulsive time interval At, the con-
vective part of the acceleration in the Euler equations will be neglected so
that for the x eoSrdinate:
Op Ou 02
-- = - ~ - - = - ~ (sa)
c)x c3t c)tax

The impulsive pressure is therefore:

0
p = --1' ~ + F(t) (5b)

in which F(t) is an additive, arbitrary function, determinate only when the

value of p at some point in the fluid is given for all values of t, but otherwise
without influence on resultant pressures. Dispensing with F(t), equation 5b
becomes:
06
p = -~, -- (5c)
Ot
192 BULLETIN OF T t t E SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

If ~ be taken equal to zero at the free surface initially, it follows, since p is

zero there all the time, that:
().~h.u = 0 (5d)

c) When r = a, the translatory velocity u in the x direction must be equal

to f ' (t), consequently the radial velocity component

~r ,,~ = f ' (t) cos 0 (6)

The Z function of the velocity potential is now represented by a trigono-

metric series:
Z= cosnkz (7)
consequently
0Z
- - = - n k sin n k z
Oz

Boundary condition (a), equation 4, is then automatically satisfied. Boun-

dary condition (b), equation 5d, is also satisfied, provided that:

nkh or n k H - ~r- __3~r . . . __nrc

2'2' 2

if n is odd. Consequently

--or-- (8)
2h 2H

The 0 function of the velocity potential may be assumed to be:

0 = cos e (9)

Boundary condition (c) will be partly satisfied. The velocity potential then
becomes:
= R cos 0 cos n k z f ' ( t ) (10)

still subject to satisfying boundary condition (c) completely. Substituting

10 into 2, a differential equation for the R function is obtained:
 I M P U L S I V E t:IYDRODYNAI~IICS OF A F L U I D 193
Since this equation must hold for any value of 0, z, and f(t), the equation for
R is:
--02R-~- I - - - (n~k~-~ l ) R = 0 (11)
Or2 r Or

Let nkr = p, then equation 11 assumes the form:

02ROp
2 -~- I- O-R
Op - ( + ~) R = O (lla)

This is a Bessel Equation of order 1 with purely imaginary arguments ip

or inkr. The solution of this equation is given by:
R = A~JI (inkr) + BnYl(inkr) (12)
Since Jl(io)---~O and Jl(i~)---~ ~ and
Since Yl(io)---~o and Yl(i~)---~ 0
it can be concluded that inside the tank:

1 = f'(t) cos 0 ~ cos nkz A J l ( i n k r ) (13)a

1,3,5
while outside the tank:
2 = f' (t) cos 0 ~ cos nkz BnYl(inkr) (13b)
1,3.5

The next step is to satisfy boundary condition (e), equation 6, fully by

calculating the values of A~ and B..

(0) = f'(t)cos0 (6)

~r r=a

O
cos nkz A ~ - - [ J1(inkr) ] = 1
1,3,5 Or
0
cos nkz B , -- [ Yl(inkr) ] = 1
,3,5 Or
The derivatives with respect to r can be expressed in two equivalent forms:

O [Jl(inkr)] n~[Jo(inkr) ~ J2(inkr)] = nkIJo(inkr) - " nTr Jl(inkr)l

Or
(14)
[
O [ Y~(inkr) ] nk [ Yo(inkr) + Y2(inkr) l = nk go(inkr) -t- -~r Y~(inkr)
Or =7
1 1
194 BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICALSOCIETY OF AMERICA

When expressed as above, the values of J(inkr) and Y(inl~r) as taken from
tables* must be considered real and positive.
Since unity is given b y the trigonometric series:
1 = 4/~(cos lcz -- 1/3 cos 3~z -~ 1/5 cos 5kz -- --I- )
for any value of z lying between 0 and h or H, the values of A~ and B~ can
be found b y equating terms:
4 1
Ai-
vk Jo(ika) - ~a Jl(ika)

4 1/9
~A3 -
vk 1 (15a)
Jo(i3ka) -- ~ a Jl(i3ka)

4 1/25
A~-
etc.
r k Jo(i5ka) - 1_ J~(i5ka)
5t~a
and t h a t :
4
Bi-
7rk Yo(ika) + ~a
1 Yl(ika)

4 1/9
-B~ -
1 Yl(i3ka) (15b)
Y0(i3ka) +

4 1/25
Bs----
rk etc.
Yo(i5ka) + ~ a1 Yl(i5ka)

DERIVATION OF IMPULSIVE HYDRODYNAMIC PRESSURES~

FORCES~ AND MOMENTS
Calculations of the impulsive hydrodynamic pressures in the fluid fields b y
equation 5c give:
O@i = -- ~f"(t) cos 0
pl = -- %'- -
.

cos nkz A~Jl(inkr)

5t 1,a,5
(16)
P2 = - - ' y - - -- --'yf" (t) cos 0 cos nkz B~Yl(inkr)
Ot 1.3,5
* See Jahnke Erode, Tables of Functions, 3d ed., pp. 226-233, 236-243.
 IMPULSIVE HYDRODYNAMICS OF A FLUID 195

The horizontal hydrodynamic forces acting on the cylindrical boundaries

in the x direction are:

X = 2 f ~ f ~ , 2 (p)~acosOrdOdz
J o J -~/2

Carrying out the integrations

X~ = -~/f"(t) ha IA~J~(ika) --1- A- ~ AsJ~(i5ka) -- . +1

(17)
X2=-Tf"(t)HaIBiYl(ika)-~B3Yi(i3ka)+~BsYl(i5ka)-"+1

The centroids of these forces are located the distances zl and z2 above the xy
plane
= -- (p)r-~ COSOrdOzdz
X J 0 J -~r/2

They are

(1--~)AiJl(i]ca) -~(1-~)AaJl(i3]ca) ~-~(1-~)AsJ1(i5ka) --

Zl -~- h 1 1
A1Jl(ika) - ~ A,Jl(i3ka) + i AsJl(iSka) - . .
(18)

~ = H ( 1 - ! ) B1Yi(ika) - ~l ( 1 - 2 ) B s Y i ( i 3 k a ) A- ~ ( 1 - 2 ) B s Y l ( i 5 k a ) -- . .
1 1
B~Yl(ika) -- 3 B~Yl(i3ka) + 5 BsYl(i5ka) - . .

The moments of the horizontal forces about the xy plane are therofore:

Ms = Xlzl and M2 = X:~2

Finally, the moments of the hydrodynamic impulsive pressures pz=0 about

the yz plane are given by:

N1 = 2frf J 0 J-~/~
(Pl)~ =0 r 2 cos OdOdr

N2 = 2 (p2)~-0 r 2 cos OdOdr

J r J -T/2
196 BULLETINOt~ THE SEISMOLOGICALSOCIETYOF AMERICA

Carrying out the integrations:

Nl= -27f'(t)h2a~ n
(19)
N2 = 27f"(t)H2al~,351 B, Yo(inka) -~ 2"-2-nYl(inka)
ka

The total hydrodynamic impulsive moment acting on a tank filled with and
surrounded by fluid is therefore M1 + Ms + N1, the moment -N2, acting on
the xy plane outside the tank, being left out of consideration.
1.0

.9 1 m,
.8 m ._.....f ~
f

.7 f _....~~..._......--.---~
.e / J f

.4 J
,3

0 0.5 1.0 t'5h H 2.0 2.5 3.0 5.5 4.0

Fig. 2. Ratios of effectivehydrodynamicmassesml and m~referred to

the total mass m of the fluid within a tank of depths h and H.

NUMERICAL VALUES OF IMPULSIVE I-IYDRODYNAMIC~/[ASSES, CENTROIDS,

MASS MOMENTS~ AND PRESSURE DISTRIBUTIONS
Figure 2 shows the ratios of the effective hydrodynamic masses ml and ms
referred to the total mass m of the fluid within a tank of depths h or H. The
ratios have been obtained from equations 17 by dividing by -Tf'(t)va2h or
by -Tf'(t)va2H.
Treating a cylinder of infinite depth H two-dimensionally, Lamb, in his
Hydrodynamics (6th ed., Art. 71), shows that the effective mass of the fluid
outside a circular cylinder subjected to translation is ,y~ra2H.
Figure 3 shows the ratios of the effective hydrodynamic mass centroids
referred to the depths h or H, equations 18.
Figure 4 shows the ratio of the effective hydrodynamic mass moment acting
on the bottom of the ~ank referred to a fictitious mass moment. This moment
is a couple; the ratios are obtained from equation 19 by dividing by -7f"(t)a2h 2
or by - 7f" (t)a2I-P.
 IMPULSIVE HYDRODYNAMICS OF A FLUID 197

.43

.42

J
,4.1 jJ j.,l- J

40 j I

.39

,3~ ~"~
.37/

0 0.5 1.0 1.5 h 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

Fig. 3. Ratios of effective hydrodynamic mass centroids referred

to the depths h and H.

\
1.4

1,2

1.0
.8

~,f('9o2b~
.6

.4 ,

.2

o 0.5 I.o 1.5 h 2.0 2.5 3.0 3,5 4.0

0

Fig. 4. Ratio of effective hydrodynamic nmss m o m e n t due to the

fluid within the tank referred to ~ fictitious mass m o m e n t "Ff"(t)a2h 2.
This moment is a couple acting on the bottom of the tank.
 [I
~ r~
~ ~.~

Jl I 1
I

tl ~o

~3

I
I

iii k [ . "~ ~ ~

[I "
 I M P U L S I V E H Y D R O D Y N A M I C S OF A F L U I D 199

Figure 5 shows the hydrodynamic pressure distributions in the planes ~ 0 =

and e = ~ for three tank-pier systems with h = H. They are obtained b y

dividing equations 16 by - ' f f ' ( t ) cos 0.

EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION OF EFFECTIVE HYDRODYNAMIC

MASS ml AND MOMENTS M1 + N1
Figure 6 shows the theoretical curves and the experimental points for a
cylindrical tank of a = 11.56 inches. The tank was subjected to an impulsive,
horizontal acceleration of maximum value 46 inches per second per second
(12 per cent g). The agreement between theory and experiment is satisfactory.
1.00 0
.90 9

.80 m, ~ ~ 8

~o y-~ j/7~
m,.601 _ _ ~ ~ 6.?
5=
.401 4 _

, Z
J +
20 ~ir . i " . 2
I0 ~.~.~ I
o 0
0 0.5 1.0 Oh__ 1.5 2.0 2.5 5.0

Fig. 6. :Experimental points on the theoretical curves for

a cylindrical tank of a = 11.56 inches. The value of ff'(t)
was 12 per cent of gravity.

IMPULSIVE HYDRODYNAMICVELOCITIES IN TANK

Since the convective acceleration was neglected in arriving at boundary con-
dition (b), equation 5d, it must be borne in mind that the impulsive velocities
approximate the actual velocities only for the short impulsive time interval At.
The impulsive vertical velocity w is given by:

0O
w - - f ' ( t ) cos 0 2_, A n J l ( i n k r ) n k sin n k z (20)
Oz ],3,5

At the bou~uary where r = a, the term n k A ~ J l ( i n k a ) becomes:

4 1 Jl(inka)
-4--
7r
n jo(inka) _ 1 Jl(inka)
nka
200 B U L L E T I N OF T H E SEISMOLOGIC&L SOCIETY OF A M E R I C A

Consequently, for large values of n, this expression assumes the approximate

form:
1 Jl(inka) 4 1
~--_:i:--
~r n Jo(inka) ~ n

When z -- h, the term sin n k z becomes =t=1 so that the summation in the
expression for w from, say n = 25 to infinity is given to a good approximation
by:

~r 25n

Since this sum has no limit, it can be concluded that the vertical velocity at
r = a and at z = h approaches infinity or is undefined. The intersection of
the boundary with the free surface of the fluid therefore constitutes a singular
line with regard to impulsive values of w. However, at any other point in the
fluid the vertical impulsive velocity is finite and is given b y equation 20. For
values of r and z near the singular line a considerable number of terms must
be used in the series.
The impulsive radial velocity v in the tank is given by:

0 1 J o ( i n k r ) - 1___ J l ( i n k r )
' - Or = f ' ( t ) cos8 4 ~ 4- - nkr cos n k z (21)
~r 1.3.5 n Jo(inka) - 1 Jl(inkr)
nka

At the boundary where r = a, this reduces to:

V= = f ' ( t ) cos cos n k z = f ' ( t ) cos 8

r~a 7~ 1,3,5 n

The impulsive circumferential velocity C in the tank is given by:

C- 0~b _ vtanS.
O(rS)

Consequently the rectangular coSrdinate velocity components u and v become:

u = V co~ 8 -- C sin 8 = ~. (cos 8 + tan 8.sin 8) -

cos 8 (22)
v = ~ sin 0 ~- C cos 0 = v (sin 8 -~ sin 8) = 0

showing that the velocity at right angles to the ground motion is not generated and
that u is independent of O.
 IMPULSIVEHYDRODYI~A:NIICSOF A FLUID 201

NUMERICALVALUES OF IMPULSIVEVELOCITIESIN A TANK WITH h/a = r / 2

I n order that the starting motion of the fluid inside a tank m a y be visualized,
the absolute vertical and horizontal velocities w and u of equations 20 and 21
have been computed and their resultant V has been plotted in terms of f1(t)
for the plane 0 = 0 (fig. 7). I t is seen that the velocity at r = 0, z = 0, 0 = 0
is 0.854f1(t) and that at r = 0, z = h, and 0 = 0 the absolute velocity is zero.
f
I

J/z'// J

i
i

Fig. 7. Absolute impulse velocities in the plane 8 = 0 and 0 =

in a cylindrical tank with h/a = v/2. The velocities at r -- a an~
z = h are indeterminate, owing to the fact that the convective ac-
celeration was neglected in formulating boundary condition b. The
impulsive velocity vector f'(t) is shown at the intersection of the
bottom of .the tank with the vertical sides.

I n figure 8 appears a plot of the impulsive velocity relative to the moving

tank. The dotted curves indicate the streamlines relative to the moving tank.
These curves have not been calculated.
Finally, figure 9 shows a contour plot of the impulsive, vertical velocity
component at the level z = 0.968 h, since for the z = h level the vertical
velocity will approach infinite values for r = a.
If this plot be compared with the figures shown in Lamb's Hydrodynamics,
6th ed., Art. 191, depicting the first two diametral, natural modes of vibration
of a cylinder filled with fluid, it can be concluded that the impulsive motion
of the tank will excite m a n y of these modes.
202 BULLETIN 0E THE SEIS:MOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

:PRACTICALEXAMLE
A reinforced concrete tank 120 ft. inside diameter and 100 ft. high has an aver-
age wall thickness of 2 ft. The water level on the inside is 90 ft. above the
b o t t o m and on the outside it is 70 ft. above the bottom. The tank experiences
an impulsive horizontal acceleration of 20 per cent of gravity. Find dynamic
forces and moments acting on tank. Weight of concrete 150 lbs./cu, ft., weight
of water 62.5 Ibs/cu. ft.

\\\ \\\ ! j ," /I

\\\ -I-- I" //I
"- :I /

t 2 ?

Fig. 8. Relative impulsive velocities in the plane 0 = 0 and 0 = x m

a cylindrical tank with h/a = ~/2. The dotted streamlines have been
drawn freehand. The vector shown at r - 0 and z -- h is equal to -fr(t).

Weight of cylindrical part of t a n k

122 X v X 2 X 100 X 150 = 11.50 X 1061bs.

E a r t h q u a k e force due to mass of concrete

X~ = 0.2 X 11.5 X 106 = 2.30 X 1061bs.

acting at the 50-ft. level.

Earthquake m o m e n t about b o t t o m due to mass of concrete
M~ -- 50 X 2.3 X 106 = 115 X 106lb. ft.
 IMPULSIVE ttYDROD~qA~ICS OF A FLUID 203

i
2.4 I E I I" i
\1 I L I I
I , ~ I I I
2. I I I I I I
I I t I I
1.6
I
i
1.2 I
I
0.8
0.41

0 I I I / 1 / I I
a 0.8a 0.6 a 0.4,a 0.2a
Fig. 9. Contour plot of the impulsive, vertical velocity component
near the surface of a cylindrical tank with h/a = ~r/2. The level z =
0.968 h was chosen in order to avoid the indeterminate velocity occur-
ring at the level z = h. The profile plot shows the vertical velocity
in the 0 = 7r plane at z = 0.968 h in terms of if(t).

W e i g h t of w a t e r w i t h i n t a n k

Z 120 ~ X 90 X 62.5 = 63.6 X l 0 s lbs.

4
R e f e r r i n g to figure 2~ we see t h a t for -h - 90 _ 1.5, m-2 = .682; c o n s e q u e n t l y ,
a 60 m

e a r t h q u a k e force a c t i n g o n t a n k d u e to water inside is:

X1 = 63.6 X 108 X .682 X 0.20 = 8.67 X l 0 s lbs.

R e f e r r i n g t o figure 3, we see t h a t for h / a = 1.5, t h e c e n t r o i d , zl, is l o c a t e d a t

0.393h = 35.4 ft.
204 BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

E a r t h q u a k e m o m e n t about b o t t o m due to mass of water inside t a n k

M1 = 8.67 X 106 X 35.4 = 307 106 lb. ft.

T h e h y d r o d y n a m i c couple acting on the b o t t o m of the t a n k due to the mass

of water inside the t a n k is found from figure 4. For h/a = 1.5, we find

N1
- .39; consequently
7 f " (t)a2h~
N1 = 62.5 X 0.20 X 605 X 905 X 0.39 = 142 X 106 lb. ft.

The earthquake effect of the water surrounding the tank is found as follows:
Weight of fictitious water within a t a n k of 124 ft. diameter and 70 ft. level

_r 1245 X 70 X 62.5 = 52.9 X 106 Ibs.

4
Referring to figure 2, we see t h a t for H _ 70 _ 1.13, ~ = 0.425, consequently:
a 62 m
E a r t h q u a k e force acting on t a n k due to surrounding water is

X2 = 52.9 X 106 X .425 X 0.20 = 4.50 X 106 lbs.

Referring to figure 3, we see t h a t for H / a = 1.13 the centroid 52 is located

at 0.392 H = 27.5 ft.

E a r t h q u a k e m o m e n t about b o t t o m of t a n k due to mass of surrounding

water
Ms = 4.50 X 106 X 27.5 = 124 X 106 lb. ft.

The totM horizontal impulsive force acting on the t a n k is therefore:

X~ + X1 + X~ = (2.30 + 8.67 + 4.50) X 106 -- 15.47 X 10 ~lbs.

This amounts to 20.6 per cent of the combined weight of the cylindrical p a r t
of the t a n k and all the inside water.

T h e total impulsive m o m e n t acting on the t a n k is therefore:

M~ + M1 + N1 + Ms = (115 + 307 + 142 + 124) X l0 s = 688 X 106 lb. ft.

This amounts to 20.4 per cent of the combined weight of the cylindrical p a r t
of the t a n k and all the inside water at the 45-ft. level.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY~
STANFORD~ CALIFORNIA.