Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa

CE 3112 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS II – Assignment 2

Assignment Analysis of a cylindrical water tank Marks 10%
• to be able to distinguish when and where to use membrane theory for
Learning analysis of cylindrical shells.
• to be able to choose appropriate finite elements in modelling surfaces.
Outcome
• to be able to utilize programmable mathematical tools to compare
variables.
1. Application of knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering 2

2. Effective communication 1

3. In-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline 2

4. Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution 1

5. Ability to utilize a systems approach to design and operational
0
Programme performance
Outcomes 6. Individual and team work 1
7. Understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental
responsibilities of the professional engineer, and the need for 0
sustainable development
8. Understanding of the principles of sustainable design and development 0
9. Understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and
0
commitment to them
10. Expectation of the need to undertake life-long learning and capacity to
0
do so
0 – not covered under this 1 – covered to some extent
2 – covered to a greater extent 3 – one of the main themes of the subject
Lecturers Dr H.M.Y.C. Mallikarachchi

Student Name
Registration Number:
Date of Assignment: 23-04-2018 Date Due: 07-05-2018
Initial Submission Date: Re Submission Date:

Assessed By:

Signature Date

Lecturers’ Remarks

B.Sc. Engineering, Semester V, CE 3112 – Structural Analysis - 2 Page 1 of 6

Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa

Important

1. Please note that plagiarism is treated as a serious offence and therefore the work you
produce must be individual and original.
2. All sources of information must be referenced using “Harvard Referencing” where a
reference list / Bibliography should be included at the end of the assignment.
3. Please note that the submission date given for the assignment is the final date that you can
submit the assignment. If the given submission date is a public holiday, redefined
submission deadline will be at 1300 hr of the immediate following working day. Late
submissions will be graded lower.
4. Assignments returned to students for corrections must be re-submitted within 10 days
5. Failure to re-submit the previously marked assignment with the re-submitted assignment
will mean that results cannot be released for the respective unit.

Plagiarism

Although research and discussion form an essential part of the assignment, deliberate copying
of the work of others or unacknowledged copying from printed or electronic sources is NOT
permitted. Disciplinary actions will be taken against those who are found guilty of plagiarism.
Signing of this sheet is required to indicate your compliance with the above regulations.

Student’s Signature: ……………………………….. Date: .…………………

Student’s Comments, (Prior to the submission) if any:

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Student’s feedback, (After the the submission) if any:

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B.Sc. Engineering, Semester V, CE 3112 – Structural Analysis - 2 Page 2 of 6

Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa

EXERCISE

A cylindrical water tank with a radius R, hieght H and thickness t shown in Figure 1, is to be
analysed using membrane theory and numerical methods (FEM).

There are TWO reports to be submitted in this assignment. Part 1 of this assignment is to be
done individually and an individual report should be submitted through Moodle by 11:59pm
on 30th April 2018. Part 2 is to be completed by comparing your results with allocated group
of maximum of six members and a group report should be submitted through Moodle by
11:59pm on 7th May 2018.

t γ

Fixed at the bottom x

Figure 1 - Cylindrical water tank

Part 1
This part of the assignment is individual.

Each person from a group should select a design data (N) from Table 1 as instructed by the
instructors.

Table 1 - Design data

N H (m) R (m) t (mm)

1 5
2 10
3 15
4 5
5 5
6 10
4 100
1 100
2 100
2 200
1 300
2 100

B.Sc. Engineering, Semester V, CE 3112 – Structural Analysis - 2 Page 3 of 6

Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa

Contents of the individual report

1. Cover page
Clearly indicate the selected N.
Clearly indicate the name and index number.
Clearly indicate the names and index numbers of the group members.

2. Indicate the local directions of a 2D finite element and the corresponding stress-resultant (denoting
by Fij) in Figure 2 given below.

Figure 2 – Local coordinates and stress-resultants

3. Model the water tank with SAP 2000 FEA package idealizing tank walls with
a. membrane sections,
b. thin shell sections,
c. thick shell sections

and present the SAP2000 model, clearly indicating boundary conditions, applied loads and
mesh arrangement.

4. Using membrane hypothesis, show that hoop stress resultant Nθ at a distance x from the
base of the water tank is given by, Nθ = γR(H-x).

5. Show that, Nx = Nxθ = 0, using your knowledge on axi-symmetric shells.

6. Calculate hoop stress (Nθ) at following points along the height of water tank from Q4.
x Nθ

0×H

0.25 × H

B.Sc. Engineering, Semester V, CE 3112 – Structural Analysis - 2 Page 4 of 6

Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa

0.50 × H

0.75 × H

1.0 × H

7. Using SAP2000 analysis results (Q3) and manual calculations (Q6), fill Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2: Variation of Nθ

Finite Element Analysis Manual

x
membrane thin shell thick shell calculation
0×H
0.25 × H
0.50 × H
0.75 × H
1.00 × H

Table 3: Variation of Nx

Finite Element Analysis Manual

x
membrane thin shell thick shell calculation
0×H
0.25 × H
0.50 × H
0.75 × H
1.00 × H

8. Compare the results with manual calculations and comment on the suitability of using
each element formulation to model a cylindrical water tank.

9. Record the bending moment variation along the x-direction in the Table 4 and comment
on the results.

B.Sc. Engineering, Semester V, CE 3112 – Structural Analysis - 2 Page 5 of 6

Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa

Table 4: Variation of Mx

Finite Element Analysis

x
membrane thin shell thick shell
0×H
0.25 × H
0.50 × H
0.75 × H
1.00 × H

Part 2

This part of the assignment is to be submitted as a group report. It is sufficient for only one
member of a group to upload the group report to Moodle.
Contents of the report
1. Cover page
Clearly indicate the names and index numbers of the group members.
2. Combining individual data of each group member, plot the variation of bending moment
(in x-direction) and stress resultants (Nθ and Nx), along the cylinder (x direction) for different
H/R, t/R and t/H ratios.
3. Model the water tank with pinned and roller boundary conditions separately for N=4 and
plot the variation of bending moment (in x-direction) and stress resultants (Nθ and Nx), along
the cylinder (x direction).
4. Discuss the validity of using membrane theory to analyze a water tank by comparing the
above plots with manual calculations;
a. Highlight the regions of the water tank that membrane theory is valid,
b. Comment on application of membrane theory based on different H/R, t/R and t/H
ratios and boundary conditions,
c. Comment on use of thick and thin shells in modelling cylindrical shells.

Evaluation criteria

Section Marks allocated

Individual report 60
Group report 40
TOTAL 100

B.Sc. Engineering, Semester V, CE 3112 – Structural Analysis - 2 Page 6 of 6