Optimum Prestress of Tanks with Pinned Base

by Troels Brondum-Nielsen

Amin Ghali and Eleanor Elliott presented in their paper’ an interesting

suggestion for prestressing of circular tanks without sliding joints. For
qpx) = e-%ospx (4)
many prestressed tanks the following construction procedure is adopted:
w(Px) = WPx)- S(Px, (5)
In order to ensure compressive hoop forces in the wall near the base, the
wall is allowed to slide freely in the radial direction during tensioning (free
base). cp(Px) = em) + 5(b) (6)

After tensioning such displacements are prevented (pinned base). The CIRCUMFERENTIAL PRESTRESS
present paper addresses the problem of prestress of such tanks. For a distribution of circumferential prestress correspond-
ing to
Keywords: circular prestressing; creep properties; prestressed concrete;
redistribution of stress; stress relaxation; tanks

BASIC EQUATIONS
z = yd[l -J-Sur(Px,]
A circular, cylindrical open tank with a vertical axis and
with depth d and uniform wall thickness h is shown in Fig. 1. with the following notation:
The wall is pinned at the base (restraint of radial translation y = specific gravity of liquid
only).
f= constant
The geometrical properties of the tank are assumed to be 5 = constant
such that it can be considered a semi-infinite cylindrical
Equation (7) yields two free parameters, f and 5, for the
shell.
optimization procedure, which is aimed at minimizing the
The radial inward displacement w of the tank wall is gov- greatest bending moment and the amount of circumferential
erned by the differential equation:2 prestress, while ensuring an appropriate compressive force
in the wall joints.
d4w
- +4p4w = z Equation (1) is identically satisfied for
dx4 D
w=ZL
With the following notation 4p4D

{ 1 -j-fSrpxecpx,+~cpx,l-o(l-Il)e(Px)} (*)
p4 = Eh = 3(1
- -v2)
(2)
4r*D r*h*

where o is a constant, depending on the boundary condi-

E = strain modulus of concrete tions. This is confirmed by substitution of Eqs. (7) and (8)
D = flexural rigidity of wall into Eq. (1).
v = Poisson’s ratio
z = radial inward load per unit area of the wall.
AU Structural Journal, V. 95, No. 1, January-February 1998.
Definition of damped trigonometric functions: Received June 24, 1996, and reviewed under Institute publication policies. Copy-
tight 0 1998, American Concrete Institute. All tights reserved, including the making
of copies unless permission is obtained from the copyright proprietors. Pertinent dis-
cussion will be published in the November-December 1998 AC1 Structural Journal if
<(Px) = e+sinpx (3) received by July 1, 1998.
Tmels Brpndum-Nielsen, FACI, is a pmfessor of structural theory in the Department
of Structural Engineering and Materials, Technical Universiry of Denmark, Copen-
hagen. He is a member of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences. an honomry
member of the Danish Society for Structural Science and Engineering, a member of
AU Committee 373, and an honorary member of CEB.

According to Eq. (8):

d*w
-=-
dx*

Fig. l-Pinned base cylindrical tank with axisymmetric cir-

d3w cumferential prestress 2
- = ~~{[SPn+w(z-S)IW(px)+55(Bx)} (10)
dx3
l.tfis reduced by a factor 1 - K, as shown in a previous paper.3
In order to ensure compressive hoop forces in the wall near K denotes the relaxation ratio. p is thus changed to
the base, the wall is allowed to slide freely in the radial di-
rection during tensioning (free base).
After tensioning such displacements are prevented clfp = ;ux+u -K)(l +)]r(Px) (15)
(pinned base). [
The boundary conditions for free base require:
The values of K are typically about 0.25.
d2w d3w = 0 forx=O
- = - HYDROSTATIC LOAD
dx* dx3 The value of p for hydrostatic load correspond to -CL, (Eq.
This is obtained by choosing o = 0. 14) for 5 = 0, i.e.
The boundary conditions for pinned base require:
ph = -c<Px> (16)
2
w = d-JZ = 0 forx=O
dxL MAXIMUM VALUE OF P
The maximum value of v occurs for empty tank after
This is obtained by choosing o = 1.
The bending moments in the horizontal sections in the stress relaxation, i.e., p..P.
wall-positive for compression at the exterior face-is The extreme value of c~f, occurs for

d(pfP) _ (-J
m, = dx
i.e., for the value of px = Px+ satisfying the equation
The non-dimensional bending moment factor is intro-
duced as
[ ( 1 - K )
U*l
z-1 +p + [COt(px+)-I]+1 = 0 (17)

P = $mx = [&3x+ a(1 -$)]<(f3x) (12) MINIMUM VALUE OF p

The minimum value of p occurs for full tank before stress
relaxation, i.e., pj+ ph.
for free base The extreme value of c~f+ l.th occurs for

P = Pf = $wx) (13) dWf+vh) o

dx a=
i.e., for the value of h = px- satisfying the equation
for pinned base

(~-px-)[cot(px-)-ll-l = 0 (18)
P = Pp = [$Px+ (I- ;qwx1 (14)

STRESS RELAXATION OPTIMUM VALUE OF 5

As the restraint corresponding to pinned versus free base The optimization consists in calculating the values of < for
is established after tensioning, the difference between l.t,, and which the greatest numeric value of p is minimum. This oc-
curs when the extreme values of j.tfP and (Q+ p,J are numer-
ically equal, i.e.. for

i &b+ )+(I -K)(l -;q5(px+)

(19)
=- [fE,(P.- )- l]W*-)

For given values of K, Eqs. (17) through (19) are a system

of three simultaneous nonlinear equations. The unknown
quantities are 5, Px+. and OX-.
The problem can be solved by a three-dimensional root-
finding algorithm. A Newton-Raphson iteration has been
found suitable for this analysis. By substituting difference
quotients for the partial derivatives, this method becomes
well fitted for programmable computers. and the complicat-
ed calculation of the partial derivatives is avoided. A de-
scription of the method is presented in the Appendix of a
previous paper.’
The result of the analysis is plotted in Fig. 2 which gives
the optimum values of 5 as a function of K.

BENDING MOMENTS
The greatest numerical value of p corresponding to the op-
timum value of 5 is
0.0 0.2 014 0;s ‘i

Fig. l?-0ptimurn vahes of 5 as a function of K

The values of pmrn are plotted on Fig. 3 as a function of K.

0.32.
HOOP FORCES
For a hoop force PI~ in the wall per unit length of the gener-
atrices (positive for tension) the corresponding value of M’ is

I<’ = -n,( E/l)-’ Y (21)

For circumferential prestress corresponding to Eq. (7), the

hoop force according to Eqs. (21), (8). and (2) is

0.24
iI9 = -ydr

{ 1-3-~SLP.~e(P~)+ul(~,~)l-o(, -$jl(~.X)} (22)

0.201 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
For free base: o = 0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 n

Fig. .%-Values of pmax as a function qf K

-(ydr)-‘n,f = I - f - ;r;rpxe(p.r) + y@c)] (23)

For pinned base before relaxation: 61 = I : For pinned base after relaxation:

ACI Structural Journal / January-February 1998

 Before relaxation After relaxation

Fig. 4-Vilues of p along the generatrices for four loud cases

For hydraulic pressure nl, corresponds to Eq. (24) for 5 = z

Oandf=d - = x = 1 -+I(Bdl) (29)
yd

(ydr)-‘nv,# = 1 -:-8(&r) (26)

(30)

The hoop force for empty tank before and after relaxation
is thus given by Eq. (23) and (25). The corresponding force
for full tank are found by superposing the contribution ac-
(31)
cording to Eq. (26).
Adequate compressive hoop forces in the upper part of the
tank can be ensured by appropriate choice of the quantityf, The level of centroid No. i is given by
typicallyf= about 1.25d.

LOCATION OF TENDONS
The required number of tendons is

where T denotes the tensile force per tendon.
The hatched area defined by the ;-curve in Fig. 1 is divided
into n equal areas by n - 1 horizontal lines ( No. 1 through
n - 1) and the tendons are located at the centroids of these
areas.
With the notation
The values of hi are derived from Eq. (3 1) by a root-find-
ing algorithm.
NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
For a tank, for which the relaxation ratio K is 0.25, the op-
timum value of 5 according to Fig. 2 is 0.593. The quantity
pd is equal to 4.

BENDING MOMENTS
h = dm’x (28) With the notation h = d’x Eq. ( 13) ( 15), and ( 16) yield:
6 ACI Structural Journal / January-February 1998
 Before relaxation After relaxation

x
Empty
Tank 1.0

L
-1.0
-
0 n
%
7r

Full
Tank

I
-1.0 0%
7dr

Fig. 5-V~~1ue.s of (ydr).‘n* along the ,qenerutrices,for four load cases

For empty tank before relaxation -(ydr)frl,f = 1 -0.8h- l.l86ht3(4h) -0.297tj1(4h)

For empty tank after relaxation
pl = l.l86hi(4h)
For empty tank after relaxation
--W--‘~lqtj,

!J 11’ = (1.186h+0.528)1(4h)
= 1 -0.8L(1.186h+0.528 )B(4h) - 0.297~(4A .)
For hydrostatic load Hydrostatic load contribution:

P/, = -5(4X) -(ydr)m’n,,l = 1 - h - 8(4h)

For full tank before relaxation In Fig. 5 are plotted the values of (ydr)-’ 12~ along the gen-
eratrices for empty and full tank before and after relaxation.
/q+p,, = (l.186L 1)1(4h) For all combinations adequate compressive hoop forces are
For full tank after relaxation: obtained.
In the particular case:
p,,,+pll = (1.186h-0.472)&4h) d=8m
r = 34.2 m
In Fig. 4 are plotted the values of /.t along the generatrices
h = 0.2 m
for empty and full tank before and after relaxation.
According to Fig. 3. pr,,cl.r = 0.255. v =0.15
y = 0.01 MN mm3
HOOP FORCES The following values apply:
Forf= I .25d: Eq. (2): p = 0.500 m-’
For empty tank before relaxation (2p2)-‘yd = 0.1600 MN

ACI Structural Journal / January-February 1998 7

 The value offdoes not affect the bending moments.
Plots of n,+, for full tank before and after relaxation will in-
dicate whether a chosen value offensures an adequate com-
pressive hoop force along the genera&ices or adjustment of
the f value is needed.
Finally, the prestress distribution is calculated according
to Eq. (7).

CONCLUSIONS
For many prestressed tanks the following construction
procedure is adopted:
In order to ensure compressive hoop forces in the wall near
the base, the wall is allowed to slide freely in the radial di-
rection during tensioning (free base).
After tensioning such displacements are prevented
(pinned base).
An optimum design of such tanks is suggested. The meth-
od leads to an extremely simple design procedure.

1 b CONVERSION FACTORS
I m = 3.28 ft
1.0 I MN = 225 kip-lbf
+% I MN m-’ = 68.S kip-lbf/ft

Fig. &-Distribution of circumferential prestress NOTATION

D = tlexural rigidity
E = strain modulus of concrete
d = depth of tank
= base of the Naperian logarithms
ydr=2.74MNm-’
; = constant
The extreme bending moments are: h = wall thickness
“l, = bending moment per unit length of horizontal section
m, = + 0.16 0.255 = k 0.0408 MN rl($ = normal force per unit length of radial section
r zz radius of tank
The minimum compressive force in the wall joints occurs w = radial displacement
for full tank after relaxation, and is: .x = height over bottom
= radial load per unit area of wall
; = q”.+2rh)-”
InVl =2.74.0.1161 =0.318MNm-’ =
Y specitic gravity
for h = 0.210. <cp.r, = r&in B.r
rl = 1I?(’ - “Z)]OJ
ecp.r, = e-kosp.1-
DISTRIBUTION OF CIRCUMFERENTIAL = relaxation ratio
PRESSURES ; = cr’x
Forf= 1.25d and 5 = 0.593, (@)-I z is plotted in Fig. 6. For = bending moment factor
P
n = 10, the calculation according to Eq. (31) and (32) yields = Poisson’s ratio
: constant

i cp(P.0 1
w@r)=
ecpx, + 5(p)
ecpx, - icpx,
IO 0 . 8 8 5 5 0 = constant
Subscripts
9 0.7244
f = free base
8
fp = after relaxation
7 h = for hydrostatic load
6 0.4320 P = pinned base
5 0.3573
4 ---it 0.2865 REFERENCES
I. Ghali, Amin,
and Elliott, Eleanor, “Prestressing of Circular Tanks.”
ACI Structural Journal, V. 88, No. 6. Nov.-Dec. 199 I. pp. 72 I-729.
2. Timoshenko, S., and Woinowsky-Krieger. S., Throy of Plum and
Shells. 2nd Edition. MC. Graw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1959, 580 pp.
3. Brondum-Nielsen, Troels, “Redistribution of Concrete Stresses Due to
OTHER NUMERICAL CASES Creep after Change of Structurals System.” ACI Structural Jortmal, V. 87.
No. 4, July-Aug. 1990. pp. 393-396.
For other values of the relaxation ratio K, the optimum val-
4. Brondum-Nielsen, Troels, “Serviceability Limit State Analysis of
ue of 5 is given by Fig. 2, and the maximum bending moment Concrete Sections Under Biaxial Bending,” AC1 JOURNAL, Proceeditlgs V.
by Fig. 3. 81, No. 5, Sept.-Oct. 1984. pp. 448-455.

8 ACI Structural Journal / January-February 1998