Workshop Outline

Purpose / Introduction

Overview of Tank Options

Construction of Pre-Stressed
Concrete Tanks

Concrete Tank Market

Structural/Seismic Consideration

Ground Improvement Methods Engeo Geotechnical

From a geotechnical
standpoint, differential
settlement causes the
most damage to tanks

Not our project!

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 Tank Settlement Definitions

Total Maximum Settlement Tilt

Average Settlement

Tank Differential Settlement Definitions

Bottom-Center Differential Bottom-Edge Differential

Settlement Settlement

Circumferential
Differential Settlement

Not shown – roof support

column differential
settlement

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 Differential Settlement Profiles
of Tank Bottom
Differential Settlement
Profiles Depend on:
 Soil Conditions

 Foundation Type
 Mat, Footings and Slab, and
Ring Foundation w/ aggregate-
base supported steel tank
bottom
 Foundation Loading
 Roof Support Details - interior
columns or dome
 Fluid Height
 Embedment Depth
 Backfill Details

Typical Differential Settlement Tolerances

Structure Type Allowable Differential inches per
Δ/l 10 feet

Reinforced concrete with 0.002 to 0.003 ¼ to 3/8 inch

insensitive finishes

Circular Steel Tanks on flexible 0.008 1 inch

base with fixed top

Circular Steel Tanks on flexible 0.002 to 0.003 ¼ to 3/8 inch

base with floating top

Values of Angular Distortion (∆/l) which can be

Tolerated without Cracking After Skempton and
MacDonald, 1956 Polshin and Tokar, 1957 and
NAVFAC DM 7, 1986

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 American Concrete Institute Criteria
Should Not Exceed
Total settlement 6 inches
Uniform tilting 3/8-inch in 10 feet
Differential settlement should ¼-inch in 10 feet of the
not exceed foundation diameter
Maximum combined uniform
and tilting settlement at the
6 inches
tank foundation perimeter

Geotechnical Considerations
 Immediate v. Long Term Consolidation Settlement

 Clay sites - long term most critical

 Compensation effects due to excavation

 Unloading decreases settlement potential (greatest at center of tank, least a edge)

 Influence of maximum past pressure σ’consolidation

 Virgin compression where σ’ > σ’consolidation
 Recompression where σ’ > σ’consolidation
 Effects both settlement magnitude and rates
Virgin compression 10X greater
magnitude than Recompression
Recompression 10X faster than
Virgin Compression

 Settlement occurs due to effective stress changes

 Negative due to excavation

 Positive due to water loads, footing loads, backfill loads behind walls, adjacent grade
changes

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 Case Study — Central Valley
130-ft Diameter Concrete Tank Buried 12 feet - Dome Roof

Stress Below Center of T ank (psf)

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000
0

Excavate to 12 feet
10

20

30

40
Depth (ft)

50

60

70

80

90

100

Initial Effective Stress Effective Stress After Excavation Effective Stress After Loading

Settlement Analysis – 3D Model

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 Settlement Profile –
Distance from Center of Tank
Distance vs. Consolidation Settlem ent Distance vs. Consolidation Settlem ent

Distance (ft) Distance (ft)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

0.1 0.1

0.2
0.2

0.3
0.3

0.4
0.4
0.5

0.5
0.6

0.6
Consolidation Settlement (in)

Consolidation Settlement (in)

0.7

0.7 0.8

0.8 0.9

1.0
0.9

1.1
1.0

1.2
1.1
1.3

1.2
1.4

1.3
1.5

1.4

Query Line 3 (Stage 6 = 100 y) Query Line 1 (Stage 6 = 100 y)

Consolidation Settlement at Depth = 12 ft Consolidation Settlem ent at Depth = 12 ft
Reference Stage: None Reference Stage: None

Dome Roof Flat Slab Roof (Interior Columns)

Total Settlement ~ 1” Total Avg. Settlement ~ 1 ¼”
Angular Distortion ~ 0.003 Angular Distortion ~ 0.004

Foundation System Options

Shallow Footing (minimal settlement)
Structural Mat Foundation (settlement mitigation)
- Must be rigid enough to moderate settlement
Structural Deep Foundation (settlement mitigation)
Piers or piles – floor spans between
Ground Improvement (settlement mitigation)
- Mitigation of settlement – allows for shallow
footing foundation

Where settlement is significant, a deep foundation or

ground improvement should be considered

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 Deep Foundation vs. Ground Improvement
Both serve to mitigate significant settlement

Ground Improvement Deep Foundation

Advantages Advantages

Allows for use of conventional Not as specialized – easier to

shallow footing foundation develop general specifications
supported on improved ground
Not subject to code-required
detailing, which can be costly
Lower cost than a deep foundation
system

Ground Improvement Systems

 Rammed/Vibro Aggregate Piers

 Vibro Replacement Stone

Columns/Impact Aggregate Piers

 Jet Grouting/Soil Mixing

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Ground Improvement Systems

Rammed/Vibro Aggregate Piers

(remove and replace)

Ground Improvement Systems

Vibro Replacement Stone Columns /

Impact Aggregate Piers
(full displacement)

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Ground Improvement Systems

Jet Grouting / Soil Mixing

Case Study – Ground Improvement

 City of Davis East Area Tank
 4MG Concrete Water Storage Tank
 Buried up to 10 feet
 Total Settlement = 5 to 6 inches at center
and approximately 3 inches at edge
(exceeds criteria for differential settlement
of ¼-inch in 10 feet)
 Ground improvement selected for
settlement mitigation

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Aggregate Pier Layout

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