Chapter 1

Introduction to the analysis

of circular tanks

1.1 SCOPE

Cylindrical walls of circular tanks and other containers are usually sub-
jected to radial pressure from the contained material or from externally
retained earth. This pressure is assumed here to have an intensity that is
constant at any one level but varies in the vertical direction. Other sources
of such axisymmetrical loading on walls are circumferential prestressing,
weight of overhanging circular platforms, or peripheral channels.
This type of loading produces axisymmetrical radial displacement. The
wall edges at the top or bottom may be free to rotate or translate, and
may be restrained by the base or the cover. Thus, the edges may receive
axi­symmetrical radial shear or bending moment. Such end forces will also
develop at a restrained edge due to the effects of axisymmetrical tempera-
ture variation, shrinkage, or creep of concrete.
For the analysis of a wall of this type it is sufficient to consider the forces
and the deformations of a typical elemental strip parallel to the cylinder
axis. The radial displacement of the strip must be accompanied by hoop
forces. As will be discussed later, the elemental strip behaves as a beam on
elastic foundation, which receives transverse reaction forces proportional
at every point to the deflection of the beam. The analysis constitutes a solu-
tion of one governing differential equation relating the deflection to the
applied load.
The objective of this book is to provide a solution of the aforementioned
differential equation to obtain the reactions on the edges and the inter-
nal forces in circular-­cylindrical walls. For the sake of simplicity in prac-
tical application, design tables are provided and their use illustrated by
examples. Although the tables are mainly intended for use in the design
of concrete tanks, they can also be utilized in the analysis of silos, pipes,
or any circular-­cylindrical shell when subjected to axisymmetrical loading
and support conditions. The tables are also applicable for the more general
problem often met in practice of a beam on elastic foundation.

3
 4  Circular storage tanks and silos, third edition

1.2 BASIC ASSUMPTIONS

The methods of structural analysis presented in this book are based on the
assumption that the material is linearly elastic. Besides, circular walls are
considered as cylindrical shells for which the thickness is small compared
to the radius. While bending, the normal to the middle surface of a wall
is assumed to remain straight and normal to the deformed middle surface.
The governing differential equation based on the aforementioned assump-
tions is solved in a closed form for walls of constant thickness. When the
thickness varies in an arbitrary fashion, closed solutions become difficult,
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so that the analysis is best achieved by numerical procedures.

The time-­dependent effect of creep of concrete or of the bearings sup-
porting the wall and relaxation of steel in prestressed concrete tanks, and
the nonlinear behavior due to cracking of reinforced concrete tanks are
important problems that are treated in this book. For the analysis of these
problems the linear elastic analysis with the assumptions adopted from
earlier constitutes a basic solution from which (by iterative or step-­by-­
step procedures or other approaches) the time-­dependent or the nonlinear
behavior may be derived (see Chapters 6 to 10).

1.3 GENERAL METHODS OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Figure  1.1a,b represents two cross-­sections of tanks formed by the inter-

section of shells of revolution. When subjected to axisymmetrical loading,
these structures can be analyzed by the general displacement or force meth-
ods of analysis1 in the same way as for plane frames. For this, consider a
strip obtained by cutting the shell by two radial vertical planes with an
arbitrary small angle between them. This strip is then treated as an assem-
blage of elements for which the stiffness coefficients in the displacement
method or the flexibility coefficients in the force method need to be cal-
culated. Derivation of these coefficients for cylindrical walls as well as for

(a) Tank with a peripheral channel (b) An elevated tank

Figure 1.1 Cross-­sections of tanks made up of shells of revolution.

 Introduction to the analysis of circular tanks  5

circular and annular plates will be discussed in other chapters. In this chap-
ter, it is assumed that these coefficients are known quantities.
Domes and cones or other forms of shells of revolutions that are used in
tank construction can be analyzed by the same general methods, but the
stiffness or the flexibility coefficients needed for the analysis are beyond
the scope of this book. However, the finite element method presented in
Chapter 5 can be used for the analysis of this type of structure.

1.4 THE DISPLACEMENT METHOD

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To explain the displacement method, consider, for example, the wall of

a tank (shown in Figure  1.2a) subjected to axisymmetrical loading (not
shown in the figure). The wall is assumed to be free at the top edge A but
continuous with an annular plate BC at the base. The structure is sup-
ported by a roller support at B and is totally fixed at C. The analysis by the
displacement method involves the following five steps.

1. A coordinate system is established to identify the location and the positive

directions of the joint displacements (Figure 1.2b). The number of coor-
dinates n is equal to the number of possible independent joint displace-
ments (degrees of freedom). There are generally two translations and a
rotation at a free (unsupported) joint. The number of unknown displace-
ments may be reduced by ignoring the extension of a straight generatrix,
which is equivalent to ignoring the axial deformation of a plane frame.
For example, by considering that lengths AB and BC remain unchanged,
the degrees of freedom are reduced to the three shown in Figure 1.2c.
2. Restraining forces {F}n×1 are introduced at the n coordinates to pre-
vent the joint displacements. The forces {F} are calculated by sum-
ming the fixed-­end forces for the elements meeting at the joints. The
internal forces at various positions within the elements are also deter-
mined with the joints in the restrained position.
3. The structure is now assumed to be deformed by the displacement at
coordinate j, Dj = 1, with the displacements prevented at all the other
coordinates. The forces S1j , S 2j , …, S nj required to hold the shell in
this configuration are determined at the n coordinates. This process
is repeated for unit values of displacement at each of the coordinates,
respectively. Thus, a set of n × n stiffness coefficients is calculated,
which forms the stiffness matrix [S]n×n of the structure; a general ele-
ment Sij is the force required at coordinate i due to a unit displacement
at coordinate j.
4. The displacements {D}n×1 in the actual (unrestrained) structure must
be of such a magnitude that the restraining forces vanish, which is
expressed by the superposition equations:
 6  Circular storage tanks and silos, third edition

A A

B B

C C

(a) A circular-cylindrical wall continuous with an annular slab subjected

to axisymmetrical loading (not shown)
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1 1 3
3
A A
2
2

5 5
B B 4
4
C C

(b) Coordinate system representing forces { F } or displacements { D }

2 2
A A
1 1

3 B B 3

C C
(c) Reduced degrees of freedom (compared to part [A] of Figure) by assuming
that the lengths AB and BC do not change

Figure 1.2 Analysis of an axisymmetrical shell by the displacement method.

F1 + S11D1 + S12D2 +  + Sln Dn = 0,

F1 + S21D1 + S22D2 +  + S2n Dn = 0,

Fn + Sn1D1 + Sn2D2 +  + Snn Dn = 0 ,

or, in matrix form,

[S]{D} = {F}. (1.1)

 Introduction to the analysis of circular tanks  7

The solution of this group of simultaneous equations gives the n

unknown displacements {D}.
5. Finally, the reactions and the internal forces at any position of the actual
shell structure are obtained by adding the values in the restrained
structure (calculated in step 2) to the values caused by the joint dis-
placements. This is expressed by the superposition equation:

Ai = Ari + [ Aui1 Auin  Auin ]{D} , (1.2)

where Ai is the value of any action, an internal force or reaction in the

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actual structure; A ri is the value of the same action in the restrained

condition; and Auij is the value of the same action corresponding to
a displacement Dj = 1. When there are m values to be determined,
Equation (1.2) can be used m times as follows:

{ A}m×1 = { A}m×1 + [ Au ]m× n {D}n×1. (1.3)

1.5 THE FORCE METHOD

The analysis by the force method also involves five steps:

1. Select a number of releases n by the removal of external or internal

forces (“redundants”). These redundant forces {F} should be chosen
in such a way that the remaining released structure is stable and easy
to analyze. As an example, releases for the structure in Figure 1.2a
are shown in Figure 1.3, where a system of n coordinates indicates
arbitrarily chosen positive directions for the released forces and the
corresponding displacements.
2. With the given external loads applied on the released structure, calculate
the displacements {D} at the n coordinates. These represent inconsisten-
cies to be eliminated by the redundant forces. The reactions and internal
forces are also determined at various positions of the released structure.

A A

B B
1 2 2 1
C C

Figure 1.3 Released structure and coordinate system for the analysis of the axisym-
metrical shell in Figure 1.2a by the force method.
 8  Circular storage tanks and silos, third edition

3. The released structure is subjected to a force F 1 = 1 and the displace-

ment f11, f 21, fn1 at each of the n coordinates is determined. The process
is repeated for unit values of the forces at each of the n coordinates,
respectively. Thus, a set of n × n flexibility coefficients is generated,
which forms the flexibility matrix [f]n×n ; a general element fij is the
displacement of the released structure at coordinate i when subjected
to a force Fj = 1.
4. The values of the redundant forces {F} necessary to eliminate the
inconsistencies in the displacements are determined by solving the
superposition equation
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[f]{F} = −{D}. (1.4)

5. The reactions and the internal forces in the actual shell structure are
obtained by adding the values in the released structure calculated in
step 2 to the values caused by the redundants. This is expressed by the
superposition equation

{ A}m×1 = { As }m×1 + [ Au ]m×1 {F }n×1, (1.5)

where {A} is a vector of m actions to be determined; {As} are their values

in the released structure; and any column j of the matrix [Au] has m val-
ues of the actions due to Fj = 1 acting separately on the released structure.

1.6 FLEXIBILITY AND STIFFNESS MATRICES

As mentioned earlier (Section 1.3), the analysis by the force or displacement

method may be applied to a strip obtained by cutting the shell of revo­
lution by two radial vertical planes with an arbitrary small angle between
them. The width at any section of such a strip is directly proportional to
the radius of revolution of the strip at this section. A force Fi or a stiffness
coefficient Sij represents the value of the force acting over the whole width
of the strip at coordinate i. Similarly, a flexibility coefficient fi represents a
displacement at i caused by a unit force acting over the whole width of the
strip at coordinate j.
It can be shown using Maxwell’s or Betti’s theorem 2 that the stiffness
matrix [S] and the flexibility matrix [f] are symmetrical. The elements of
either of the two matrices are related:

fij = f ji (1.6)

and

Sij = S ji . (1.7)
 Introduction to the analysis of circular tanks  9

An alternative approach that is adopted in this book is to consider for

an axisymmetrical shell of revolution that the value Fi or Sij represents the
intensity of a uniformly distributed force or couple applied on the periphery
of the shell at coordinate i. Similarly, a flexibility coefficient f represents
the displacement at coordinate i when a uniformly distributed load of unit
intensity is applied on the periphery of the shell at coordinate j. The stiff-
ness and flexibility matrices in this case will be symmetrical only when all
the coordinates are at one radius as in the case of a circular-­cylindrical wall.
In the general case, Maxwell’s or Betti’s theorem leads to
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ri = Sij = rj S ji , (1.8)

ri fij = rj f ji , (1.9)

where ri and rj are the radii of the shell of revolution at coordinates i and j,
respectively. (This is discussed further in Appendix A, Section A.3.)
With any of the two aforementioned approaches, it can be shown that
for the same system of coordinates the stiffness and the flexibility matrices
are related:

[ S ] = [ f ]−1 (1.10)

or

[ f ] = [ S ]−1. (1.11)

1.7 MOMENT DISTRIBUTION

In some cases, it may be advantageous to use the moment distribution in

order to avoid or reduce the number of equations to be solved (step 4 of the
displacement method). This is particularly the case when the joints between
the elements rotate without translation. The axisymmetrical circular struc-
ture in Figure 1.4 is an example; by ignoring the changes of length of EA,
AB, AD, and BC, the degrees of freedom will be the rotations at A and B.
With moment distribution, the joints are first assumed to be fixed. The
effect of joint displacements is then introduced by successive corrections.
Thus, moment distribution is a displacement method, but different from
that described earlier, since no equations are usually required to find the
joint displacements. Instead, the displacements are allowed to take place in
steps and their effects are seen as a series of successive converging correc-
tions to the moments at the ends of the various members.
 10  Circular storage tanks and silos, third edition

B A E A B

C D D C

Figure 1.4 An axisymmetrical circular structure to be analyzed by the moment distribu-

tion method.
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1.7.1 Notation and sign convention

Before expounding further details about analysis by moment distribution,
it is important to define the notation and sign convention adopted. Consider
the right-­hand half of the circular-­cylindrical wall shown in Figure 1.5a. A
clockwise moment or rotation of either end is considered positive. The fol-
lowing notation is also adopted.

SAB = rotational stiffness at edge A of element AB; that is, the axisym-
metric moment per unit length corresponding to a unit rotation at A
while the displacements of B are restrained (Figure 1.5a).
tAB = moment carried over from A to B; that is, the moment per unit length
at the fixed edge B caused by a unit rotation of edge A (Figure 1.5a).

Similarly, S BA and t BA are represented in Figure 1.5b.

In general, for a cylinder with variable thickness, SAB is not equal to
S BA but

t AB = tBA = t . (1.12)

When the radii at the two ends rA and r B are different (such as for the annu-
lar plate AB in Figure A.2; see Appendix A), then

rAtBA = rBt AB . (1.13)

t tAB = t SBA SBA

B B B B
1 1
1 1
A A
SAB A A SAB t tBA= t

(a) End moments caused by a unit (b) End moments caused by a unit
rotation at edge A rotation at edge B

Figure 1.5 Sign convention and terminology used in moment distribution.

 Introduction to the analysis of circular tanks  11

Equation (1.12) and Equation (1.13) follow from application of Betti’s theo-
rem.3 The carry-­over factor from A to B is defined as

t AB
CAB = . (1.14)
SAB

Similarly,

tBA
CBA = . (1.15)
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SBA

1.7.2 Steps of analysis
The analysis by moment distribution is done in five steps, which are dis-
cussed next for the structure in Figure 1.4.

1. With the rotations restrained at all joints, determine the fixed-­end

moments (in the radial plane) due to the applied loads.
2. At the joints where rotations occur (joints A and B), calculate the
relative end-­rotational stiffnesses as well as the carry-­over factors.
Determine the distribution factors as usually done for plane frames.
3. Perform cycles of moment distribution, carrying over in the usual
way, then sum the member end moments, which are the final radial
moments at the edges.
4. Calculate the changes in edge moments caused by the rotations of the
joints; these are equal to the differences of the final moments and
the fixed-­end moments.
5. The final end reactions or the internal forces at any point in the
shell are then obtained by adding the values for the restrained struc-
ture to the values due to the radial moment changes calculated in
step 4.

The procedure is similar to what engineers usually apply for the analysis
of plane frames. However, the values of the fixed-­end moments, the end-­
rotational stiffnesses, and the carry-­over factors are of course different, as
will be discussed in later chapters.

1.8 ADJUSTED STIFFNESS AND

FLEXIBILITY COEFFICIENTS

In later chapters, tables or equations are presented to give elements of the

stiffness matrix [S] or its inverse, the flexibility matrix [f], for cylindrical
 12  Circular storage tanks and silos, third edition

3
B B

A A
1

2
(a) Coordinate system
1
F4 = SBA
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F4
B B B
1 B
1 1 1
A A

1
A A
F2 F2 = SAB
(b) Unit rotation at edge A, (c) Unit rotation at edge B,
with edge B hinged with edge A hinged
Given D2 = 1; D1 = 0; D3 = 0; Given D4 = 1; D1 = 0; D3 = 0;
F4 = 0, relations derived F2 = 0, relations derived
from Equation 1.16: from Equation 1.16:
S24 S24
D4 = – (1.18) D2 = – (1.23)
S44 S22
S14 S24 S12 S24
F1 = S12 – (1.19) F1 = S14 – (1.24)
S44 S22

S 224 S23S24
F2 = S22 – (1.20) F3 = S34 – (1.25)
S44 S22
S34 S24 S 224
F3 = S23 – (1.21) F4 = S44 – (1.26)
S44 S22
Rotational stiffness of edge A, Rotational stiffness of edge B,
with edge B hinged: with edge A hinged:
1 S 224 1 S 224
SAB = S22 – (1.22) SBA = S44 – (1.27)
S44 S22

Figure 1.6 Effect of rotation (or distributed moment) applied at one edge of an axisym-
metrical shell with hinged edges. The coefficients Sij are elements of the stiff-
ness matrix corresponding to the coordinates in (a).

walls and for annular slabs. For any of these axisymmetrical shells, the
matrices correspond to four coordinates as shown in Figure 1.6a. The ele-
ments of [S] and [f], the stiffness and flexibility coefficients, are given in
terms of the geometrical and material properties of the shell (see Table A.1
in Appendix A and Tables 12.16 and 12.17 in Chapter 12).
 Introduction to the analysis of circular tanks  13

The matrix [S] or [f] relates forces to displacements at the four coordi-
nates by the equation

[S]{D} = {F} (1.16)

or its inverse

[f]{F} = {D}. (1.17)

Equation (1.16) must not be confused with Equation (1.1), [S]{D} = –{F},
used in the displacement method of analysis where unknown displacements
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{D} are introduced of such a magnitude as will produce forces –{F} to elimi-
nate the artificial restraining forces {F}. Similarly, Equation (1.17) must not
be confused with Equation (1.4) of the force method.
It is often expedient to reduce the number of simultaneous equations
by using adjusted stiffness or flexibility coefficients, for example, to allow
directly for a hinged or a free end. Likewise, in moment distribution, it may
be expedient to use adjusted or modified rotational stiffness of one end with
the other end hinged or free as shown in Figure 1.6b,c and Figure 1.7b,c. In
general, when four of the eight end forces and displacements are known to be
either zero or unity, the other four can be derived by solving Equation (1.16)
or (1.17), with preference given to the equation requiring an easier solution.
For example, to find the adjusted end-­rotational stiffness SAB Ο1 of the
cylindrical wall in Figure  1.6b (with end B hinged instead of fixed), set
D 2 = 1, D1 = D3 = 0, and F4 = 0 and solve Equation (1.16) for the remain-
ing forces or displacements to obtain the relations listed in Figure  1.6b.
The relations given in Figure 1.6c and SAB Ο1 are derived in a similar way. In
Figure 1.7, two other adjusted end-­rotational stiffnesses are derived, SBA Ο2
and SBAΟ , which are the intensities of the moments required to introduce unit
2

rotation at ends A and B, respectively, of a cylinder with the other end free.

1.9 GENERAL

The decision to use the displacement or the force method for the analysis
depends in general on the amount of computation required to generate the
matrices [S] and {F} in the displacement method and [f] and {D} in the force
method and in solving Equations (1.1) or (1.4).
The design tables presented in Part II and the appendices of this book are
prepared mainly to help with analysis by the force method, or by moment
distribution. However, some of the tables are also helpful in analysis by the
displacement method in its general form.
Numerical examples involving the use of the force and displacement
methods are presented in Chapters 2 to 4. Moment distribution is used in
Chapter 4, Example 4.3.
 14  Circular storage tanks and silos, third edition

3
B B

A A
1

2
(a) Coordinate system
2
F4 = SBA
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B B B B
1 1 1 1

A A
2 A A
F2 = SAB
(b) Unit rotation at edge A, (c) Unit rotation at edge B,
with edge B free with edge A free
Given D2 = 1; D1 = 0; F3 = 0; Given D4 = 1; D3 = 0; F1 = 0;
F4 = 0, relations derived F2 = 0, relations derived
from Equation 1.17: from Equation 1.17:
f11 f23 – f12 f13 f33 f14 – f13 f34
D3 = (1.28) D1 = (1.33)
f11 f22 – f 212 f33 f44 – f 234
f11 f24 – f12 f14 f33 f24 – f23 f34
D4 = (1.29) D2 = (1.34)
f11 f22 – f 212 f33 f44 – f 234
– f12 – f34
F1 = (1.30) F3 = (1.35)
f11 f22 – f 212 f33 f44 – f 234
f11 f33
F2 = (1.31) F4 = (1.36)
f11 f22 – f 212 f33 f44 – f 234
Rotational stiffness of edge A, Rotational stiffness of edge B,
with edge B free with edge A free
2 f11 2 f33
SAB = (1.32) SBA = (1.37)
f11 f22 – f 212 f33 f44 – f 234

Figure 1.7 Effect of rotation (or distributed moment) applied at one edge of an axisym-
metrical shell with one edge hinged and the other edge free. The coefficients f
are elements of the flexibility matrix corresponding to the coordinates in (a).

NOTES

1. Ghali, A., Neville, A. M., and Brown, T. G. (2009). Structural Analysis: A

Unified Classical and Matrix Approach, 6th ed., Spon Press, London.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.