1.

Introduction
As most of the liquid storage tanks which are required to be functional even after the
earthquake, the safety of such tanks against seismic loads is required to be considered.
Dynamic analysis of liquid containing tank is a complex problem involving liquid-
structure interaction. The analysis of the ground supported and elevated storage tanks is
given in IS 1893 (Part 2) provided by the Bureau of Indian Standards (Fifth Revision) in
2014. It consists of analysis of elevated storage tanks with a two-degree of freedom
idealization. Effect of impulsive as well as convective hydrodynamic pressure of liquid is
also considered.

2. Literature Review
Jaiswal, O.R., Rai, D.C. and Jain, S.K. (2007), “Review of Seismic Codes on Liquid
Containing Tanks”
In this paper, provisions of ten seismic codes (‘2006 IBC & ASCE 7’, ‘Eurocode 8
(1998)’, ‘NZSEE’, ‘ACI 350.3 (2001)’, ‘ACI 371 (1998)’, ‘AWWA D-100 (2005)’,
‘AWWA D-110 (1995)’, ‘AWWA D-105 (1995)’ and ‘API 650 (2005)’) on tanks are
reviewed and compared. This review has revealed that there are significant differences
among these codes on design seismic forces for various types of tanks.

Jaiswal, O.R., Rai, D.C. and Jain, S.K. (2005), ‘‘Modified Proposed Provisions for
Aseismic Design of Liquid Storage Tanks: Part I – Codal Provisions’’
In this paper, modifications to the provisions given in IS1893 Part 2:1984 are proposed
and some new provisions are also included. Major changes in the provisions are in
i) Design Horizontal Seismic Coefficient
ii) Spring-Mass Model
iii) Time Period
iv) Hydrodynamic Pressure (Convective)
v) Sloshing Wave Height

Jaiswal, O.R., Rai, D.C. and Jain, S.K. (2005) ‘‘Modified Proposed Provisions for
Aseismic Design of Liquid Storage Tanks: Part II – Commentary and Examples’’
Considering all the points given in part I of this paper (mentioned above), detailed
commentary explaining rationale behind these modified provisions is provided.
Based on numerous analytical, numerical and experimental studies simple spring mass
models of tank-liquid system have been developed to evaluate hydrodynamic forces. In
modified provisions, values of response reduction factor for different types of tanks have
been provided which are based on comparison of design seismic forces with other
international codes and hence these values are consistent with present international
practices. Two solved numerical examples are also included to illustrate the application
of these provisions. They clearly show that for some ground supported tanks, design will
be influenced by hydrodynamic forces and brings out the need for seismic analysis of
ground supported tanks, which was not considered in IS 1893 (Part2):1984.

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 Jain, S.K. and Jaiswal, O.R. (2007) ‘‘Guidelines for Seismic Design of Liquid
Storage Tanks and Provisions with Commentary and Explanatory Examples’’.
The provisions included in this paper are in line with the general provisions of IS1893
(Part 1): 2002 and hence should pose no difficulty to the designers in implementation. To
facilitate understanding of the provisions, clause-by-clause commentary is also provided.
Further, six explanatory solved examples are provided based on the provisions of these
Guidelines.

3. Spring Mass Model for Seismic Analysis

The tank can be idealized by equivalent spring mass model as shown in Fig. 1 in order to
include the effect of hydrodynamic pressure in the analysis in addition to the hydrostatic
pressure (including liquid-structure interaction).

a) b)
Fig. 1 Spring Mass Model for (a) Ground Supported Tanks (b) Elevated Tanks

If we consider the elevated circular tank, the parameters mi, mc, hi, h*i, hc, h*c, Kc are
obtained from Fig. 2. ms is the mass of the structure including 1/3rd mass of staging.

Fig.2 Parameters of The Spring Mass Model for Circular Tank

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3.1 Time Period
There will be two different time periods of the two modes i.e. one is impulsive mode and
other is convective mode. The code provides the time periods for ground supported
circular and rectangular tank as well as elevated circular and rectangular tank. The same
can be obtained with the help of plots given in Fig. 3 as follows:
𝑚𝑖 + 𝑚𝑠 𝐷
𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜 𝑇𝑖 = 2𝜋 √ ; 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 𝑇𝑐 = 𝐶𝑐 √
𝐾𝑠 𝜌

Fig.3 Coefficient of Impulsive & Convective Mode Time Period for Circular Tank

3.2 Damping
Damping in the convective mode for all types tanks as well as liquids is taken as 0.5 %
of the critical. Whereas for the impulsive mode, that will be 2 % for steel tanks and 0.5
% for RC or masonry tanks.

3.3 Design Horizontal Seismic Coefficient

Design Horizontal Seismic Coefficient can be obtained separately for impulsive and
convective modes from the following formula:
𝑍 𝐼 𝑆𝑎
𝐴ℎ = × ×
2 𝑅 𝑔
Z = Zone factor as per Table 2 of IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016
I = Importance Factor as per Table 1 of IS 1893 (Part 2): 2014
R = Response Reduction Factor as per Table 2 and Table 3 of IS 1893 (Part 2): 2014
(varies between 2 to 4).
Sa/g = Average response acceleration coefficient as per Fig. 2 of IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016
and multiplying by factors as per the damping.

3.4 Base Shear

Base shear in impulsive mode (Vi) and in convective mode (Vc) can be obtained
separately as:
𝑉𝑖 = (𝐴ℎ )𝑖 (𝑚𝑖 + 𝑚𝑠 ) 𝑔 𝑉𝑐 = (𝐴ℎ )𝑐 𝑚𝑐 𝑔

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 Total base shear can be obtained through square root of sum of the squares (SRSS) rule

as: 𝑉 = √𝑉𝑖 2 + 𝑉𝑐 2

3.5 Base Moment

Base Moments (overturning moment) in impulsive mode as well as in convective mode
at the base of the wall (Mi / Mc) and at the base slab/plate (M*i / M*c) can be obtained
separately as:
𝑀∗ 𝑖 = (𝐴ℎ )𝑖 (𝑚𝑖 (ℎ∗ 𝑖 + ℎ𝑠 ) + 𝑚𝑠 ℎ𝑐𝑔 ) 𝑔 𝑀∗ 𝑐 = (𝐴ℎ )𝑐 𝑚𝑐 (ℎ∗ 𝑐 + ℎ𝑠 ) 𝑔

Total base Moment can be obtained through square root of sum of the squares (SRSS) rule

𝑀∗ = √𝑀∗ 𝑖 2 + 𝑀∗ 𝑐 2
3.6 Hydrodynamic Pressure
During earthquake, tank wall is subjected to lateral hydrodynamic pressure and the tank
base is subjected to vertical hydrodynamic pressure (as shwon in Fig. 4).
These lateral impulsive pressure piw at the base of the wall and vertical impulsive
pressure pib at the base slab/plate and similarly lateral convective pressure pcw at the base
of the wall and vertical conventive pressure pcb at the base slab/plate can be obtained as:

Fig. 4 Hydrodynamic pressure distribution on tank wall & base

Lateral hydrodynamic impulsive pressure on the wall:
𝑝𝑖𝑤 = 𝑄𝑖𝑤 (𝑦)(𝐴ℎ )𝑖 𝜌 𝑔 ℎ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜑
Qiw(y) – Coefficient of impulsive hydrodynamic pressure on wall
𝑄𝑖𝑤 (𝑦) = 0.866 [1 − (𝑦/ℎ)²] tan(0.866 𝐷/ℎ)

𝜑 - Circumferrential angle
y - Vertical distance of a point on tank wall from the bottom of the tank wall

Vertical hydrodynamic impulsive pressure on the base slab:

sinh(1.732 𝑥/ℎ)
𝑝𝑖𝑏 = 0.866(𝐴ℎ )𝑖 𝜌 𝑔 ℎ
cosh(0.866 𝑙 ′ /ℎ)
x - Horizontal distance of a point on a base of a tank in the direction of seismic force
from center of the tank
l’ - Strip length on a base slab where impulsive hydrodynamic pressure pib is calculated

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 Lateral hydrodynamic convective pressure on the wall:
𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝜑
𝑝𝑐𝑤 = 𝑄𝑐𝑤 (𝑦)(𝐴 ℎ )𝑐 𝜌 𝑔 ℎ 𝐷 (1 − ) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜑
3
Qcw(y) – Coefficient of convective hydrodynamic pressure on wall
cosh(3.674 𝑦/𝐷)
𝑄𝑐𝑤 (𝑦) = 0.5625
cosh(3.674 ℎ/𝐷)
Vertical hydrodynamic convective pressure on the base slab:
𝑝𝑐𝑏 = 𝑄𝑐𝑏 (𝑦)(𝐴ℎ )𝑐 𝜌 𝑔 𝐷

Qcb(y) – Coefficient of convective hydrodynamic pressure on base slab

𝑥 4 𝑥 3 ℎ
𝑄𝑐𝑏 (𝑦) = 1.125 ( − ( ) ) 𝑠𝑒𝑐ℎ (0.3674 )
𝐷 3 𝐷 𝐷
Pressure due to wall inertia pww should also be included.
𝑝𝑤𝑤 = (𝐴ℎ )𝑖 𝑡 𝜌𝑚 𝑔

where ρm - mass density of the tank wall

t - wall thickness
Due to vertical ground acceleration, effective weight of the water increases and it
induces additional pressure pv on the tank wall having similar distribution as that of
hydrostatic pressure. It may be taken as 2/3rd of that of horizontal ground acceleration.
2 𝑍 𝐼 𝑆𝑎
𝑝𝑣 = 𝐴𝑣 𝜌 𝑔 ℎ (1 − 𝑦/ℎ) 𝐴𝑣 = ( × × )
3 2 𝑅 𝑔
The maximum hydrodynamic pressure should be obtained through SRSS as:
𝑝 = √(𝑝𝑖𝑤 + 𝑝𝑤𝑤 )2 + 𝑝𝑐𝑤 2 + 𝑝𝑣 2

3.7 Anchorage Requirement

Ground supported tanks should be anchored to their foundation against overturning
when
ℎ 1
>
𝐷 𝑜𝑟 𝐿 (𝐴ℎ )𝑖
D- Dia. of the circular tank
L- Length of the rectangular tank
The same procedure should also be done for tank empty condition.
Also, the sloshing height of the wave for maximum sloshing should be calculated to
check for the free board.

4. Conclusions
The main conclusions are summarized as follows:
 Seismic analysis of the liquid storage should be done as it results into more critical design
forces.
 The rational method of analysis using the two masses – impulsive and convective- may
be used for determining the seismic design forces for ground supported as well as
elevated liquid storage tank of any capacity.

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5. Proposed MTech Project:
 To review the provisions given in IS 1893 (Part 2): 2014.
 To develop the explanatory examples given in IITK-GSDMA Guidelines.
 Compare the IS codal provisions with the international codal provisions.

6. References
IS 1893 (Part 2): 2014, Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures, Part 2
Liquid Retaining Tanks (Fifth Revision), BIS, New Delhi, India.

IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016, Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures, Part 1
General Provisions and Buildings (Sixth Revision), BIS, New Delhi, India.

Jaiswal, O.R., Rai, D.C. and Jain, S.K. (2007), “Review of Seismic Codes on Liquid-
Containing Tanks”, Earthquake Spectra, 23(1), 239–260.

Jaiswal, O.R., Rai, D.C. and Jain, S.K. (2005), “Modified Proposed Provisions for
Aseismic Design of Liquid Storage Tanks: Part I – Codal Provisions”, Journal of
Structural Engineering, 32(3), 195-206.

Jaiswal, O.R., Rai, D.C. and Jain, S.K. (2005), “Modified Proposed Provisions for
Aseismic Design of Liquid Storage Tanks: Part II – Commentary and Examples”,
Journal of Structural Engineering, 32(4), 297-310.

Jain, S.K. and Jaiswal, O.R. (2007), IITK-GSDMA Guidelines for Seismic Design of
Liquid Storage Tanks, Provisions with Commentary and Explanatory Examples,
NICEE, Kanpur, India.