2007 ASCE Standard for Seismic

Design of Petrochemical Facilities

Seismic Design of Coker

Structures using ASCE 7-05

D. S. (Stan) Martin P.E.

Bechtel Corporation
Oil, Gas, and Chemicals Global Business Unit

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Growth trend in U.S. and worldwide for Coker
projects due to shifting crude oil supply patterns
Refineries are processing more high sulfur/ low
quality crude oil
Delayed Coking process converts the heavy
bottom of the barrel components into solid
coal-like fuel
Coke is used for Power Generation, Cement
production (Kiln fuel), Exports

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Bechtel Corporation has been active in recent
growth of Delayed Coking
Entered Alliance with Conoco in 1994 as exclusive
agent for marketing and licensing its process
technology for delayed coking
Recent projects in which seismic loading
controlled design of the coker structure
Client

Location

Code

Seismic Criteria

Conoco_Phillips

Borger, TX

ASCE 7-98

SDC B

PetroCanada

Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada

NBC (Canada) 1995

Zone 1

HOVENSA

St. Croix, USVI

UBC-97

Zone 4

Conoco

Billings, MT

UBC-88

Zone 2B

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Steel Drilling Structure

Coke Drums
(in Pairs)

Concrete Table-Top

Foundation Mat / Pit

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Coke Drums
Diameter: 23-6
Base Ring to Upper Seam: 80-0
Operating Wt (Pair): 4112 kips
% of Seismic Mass: 19.5%

El 77-0
El 57-9
El 27-0
El 0-0

Table-Top Structure
6 Columns w. 8-0x 8-0 Cross Section
Column Grid: 1 N-S Bay @ 37-0
2 E-W Bays @36-0
Top Level: 7-0 Thick Slab
Intermediate Level: 4-0 Thick Slab with 8 wide x
7 deep beams on Col lines
Lower Level: 8wide x 7 deep beams on Col lines
Self Wt: 14213 kips
% of Seismic Mass: 67%

EXAMPLE PROBLEM FOR UPDATED ASCE SEISMIC

GUIDELINES FOR PETROCHEMICAL FACILITIES

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Design Criteria for Example

Site Class C (Assumed Soil Properties, Chap 20)

SDS (0.2 sec) = .51g (Section 11.4)
SD1 (1.0 sec) = .20g (Section 11.4)
Occupancy Category III (Table 1.1)
Importance Factor 1.25 (Table11.5.1)
Seismic Design Category D (Tables 11.6-1 &
11.6.2)

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Analysis and Design
Step 1 - Determine the Fundamental Period of the Structural System

Coupled Model, Fixed Base

Concrete Sections Cracked
Drums Modeled as Linear Elements
Steel Modeled as Weight at Support Points

TN-S: 0.74 seconds

TE-W: 0.69 seconds

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Analysis and Design
Step 2 Select the Analysis Procedure
Permitted Analytical Procedures listed in Table 12.6-1
Period less than 3.5 Ts (1.37 sec)
Coker Table Top contains Vertical Stiffness (Type 1) and Mass (Type 2) Irregularities as defined in Table 12.3.2

Equivalent Lateral Force Analysis is not

permitted.
Modal Response Spectrum Analysis is
chosen

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Analysis and Design
Step 3 Develop the Design Response Spectrum
(Section 11.4.5)

Coker Example Response Spectrum

0.60

Acceleration (g)

0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00
Seconds

4.00

5.00

6.00

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Analysis and Design
Step 4 Prepare the Analytical Model
and 15.3)

(Sections 12.7

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 5 Process the Dynamic Model

Mode No.

Freq (Hz)

Period
(Sec)

1.348

0.742

1.443

0.693

2.983

0.335

3.088

0.324

8.475

0.118

10

8.731

0.115

TOTALS

X-Spectrum
% Participation

Y-Spectrum
% Participation
84.74

85.58

3.74

3.02

6.34

6.39

94.99

94.82

Mode Shape 8
1
6

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 6 Response Spectrum Analysis

Ensure 90% of mass participating
Combine internal modal forces from design response
spectrum using SRSS or CQC
Check base shear for need to scale results upward
Direction

Coupled Analysis
RSA (V)

ELF
(V)

RSA/ELFS
(Base Case)

Scaling
Required?

N-S

5296 k

6186 k

0.86

no

E-W

5710 k

6623 k

0.86

no

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 7 Select a Structural System for the

Concrete Table Top (1of 3)
Considered a NBS similar to Buildings
Available systems listed in Table 15.4-1

For SDC D, the following moment frame systems are permitted;

Lateral Force Resisting System

Height Limitations

Detailing Requirements

Ordinary Reinforced Concrete

Moment Frame (OMF)

0.8

50 ft

ACI 318, excluding Chapter 21

Intermediate Reinforced Concrete

Moment Frame (IMF)

0.8

No limit

ACI 318, including Chapter 21

Intermediate Reinforced Concrete

Moment Frame (IMF)

3.0

50 ft
(Discussion Follows)

ACI 318, including Chapter 21

Special Reinforced Concrete Moment

Frame (SMF)

8.0

No limit

ACI 318, including Chapter 21

ASCE 7 Section 14.2.2.6

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Step 7 Select a Structural System for the Concrete Table Top
(2 of 3)
SMF (R=8) not recommended
Damage to structure, equipment and piping systems from even moderate Seismic Event could affect
plant operations
Structure likely to maintain a significant degree of original stiffness after reinforcement yielding due to
massive member proportions. This could result in serious under-design and disguise approach of
push-over limit

IMF (R=0.8 when Ht>50ft)

Cost Penalty for Overdesign and Detailing
Seismic loads in higher design categories will control member sizes and pile on even more seismic
mass

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Step 7 Select a Structural System for the
Concrete Table Top (3 of 3)
SDC

Structural
System
(Recommended)

Detailing
Requirements

A&B

OMF

Exclude ACI Chapter 21

IMF

Include ACI Chapter 21

D, E, F

IMF **

Include ACI Chapter 21

All

Coke Drums

Welded steel with special

detailing

** Outside of current ASCE Ht Limitation of 50 ft. Task Committee believes OK

for oversize petrochemical structures, but requires comprehensive analysis
and approval of Owner and permitting authority

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Analysis and Design
Step 8 Develop Load Combinations
DL(1.2) + LL(1.0) + EL(1.0)
DL (.9) + E(1.0)
EL includes

100% primary direction lateral load

30% perpendicular direction lateral load
20% of DL x SDS in vertical direction
Accidental Torsion
Redundancy Factor of 1.3 applied to lateral loads

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 9 Post Processing

(1 of 2)

Drift in Concrete Table-Top

Level

Max Computed Story Drift

Allowable
Story Drift

N-S

E-W

(per Table
12.12.1)

73.5 - 54.25

0.83

0.68

2.66

54.25 - 23.5

2.30

1.99

4.26

23.5 0

1.32

1.20

3.25

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 9 Post Processing

(2 of 2)

Member Forces and Capacities

Bending Check at Elev 73.5

E-W Moment in Slab at Elev 73.5

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 10 Develop Design Details

#4 TIE SETS SPACED @ 11" (TYP)
7 TIES PER SET

8'-0"

2"
18-11's
2-11's
2-11's

7'-0"

EXTEND COLUMN
TRANSVERSE
REINFORCEMENT
TO TOP OF JOINT

2-11's
2-11's
18-11's

NO LAP SPLICES IN N-S BEAM

SPAN
LAP SPLICE E-W BEAM AT
MIDSPAN (2 LOCATIONS)

#4 TIE SETS
SPACED @ 11"

BEAM CROSS SECTION

8'-0"

8'-0"

68 - #11 BARS

#4 TIES

COLUMN CROSS SECTION

DETAIL AT TOP OF
COLUMNS

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Step 11 Design Nonbuilding Structures
supported by the Table-Top
Coke Drums
Seismic loading from the RSA of the combined model
R=3 for skirt-supported elevated vessels provided special detailing
requirements met
Loads usable for drum design and anchorage to table-top

Steel Drilling Structure

Seismic loading (Fp) from Chapter 13

Design as Ordinary Concentrically Braced Frame with R=1.5
OCBF does not have height limitations or detailing requirements
Higher seismic loading typically not problem as wind governs design

Seismic Design of Coker Structures

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS