Int. J. Pres. Ves.

& Piping 35 (1988) 383-401

Design of Steel Storage Tanks with Spherical Bottoms

D. N. Paliwal
Department of Applied Mechanics, Motilal Nehru Regional Engineering College,
Allahabad--211004, India

&

R. Gopal
Indo-Gulf Fertilizer and Chemical Corporation, Jagdishpur, UP--227817, India

(Received 29 February 1988; accepted 5 March 1988)

A BSTRA CT

A new approach to the design of a vertical cylindrical storage vessel with a

spherical bottom, based on bending theory instead of membrane analysis of
shells, is proposed. The design of cylindrical shells employs the analysis of a
cylindrical shell subjected to a wind load. Axial membrane stresses along the
height caused by wind loading are evaluated from the prepared charts for
various R/h ratios. These stress values are multiplied by a multiplication
factor to obtain the meaningful bending stresses. The design of the spherical
bottom involves the analysis of a shallow spherical shell on a Pasternak
foundation. The distribution of membrane and bending stresses in the
spherical bottom is plotted against the radial distance. To facilitate the work
of the designer charts have been provided for rapid determination of various
terms involved in the calculation of net stresses in the bottom.

NOTATION

D Flexural rigidity of a shallow spherical shell, Eh3/[12(1- v)2]

d Diameter o f the tank
E M o d u l u s of elasticity in tension and compression
f M a x i m u m permissible stress
383
Int. J. Pres. Ves. & Piping 0308-0161/88/$03"50 © 1988 Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd,
England. Printed in Great Britain
 384 D. N. Paliwal, R. Gopal

G Modulus of elasticity in shear

h Thickness of the shell plate
J. Bessel function of the first kind and of order n
k Stiffness modulus of a foundation
l Height of the tank
M.Mo Radial and tangential moments
t'o Wind pressure
Q Non-dimensional intensity of a continuously distributed load,
qR4/Dh
q Maximum hydrostatic pressure in storage tank
R Radius of the base circle of a shallow spherical shell
R0 Radius of curvature of a shallow spherical shell
U, W Components of displacement

Normalised constant
/3r Radial strain
~0 Tangential strain
2 Non-dimensional stiffness modulus of a foundation, kR4/D
Non-dimensional shear modulus of a foundation, GRZ/D
v Poisson's ratio
P Specific gravity of liquid

INTRODUCTION

Storage vessels are widely used in petroleum and other chemical industries
for storing petroleum products and other chemicals at atmospheric pressure.
Vertical cylindrical tanks resting on the ground are preferred for this
purpose over horizontal cylindrical tanks and spherical tanks on account of
their low manufacturing cost and higher capacities. The vertical storage
tanks are sometimes also subjected to unexpected dynamic loads, such as
wind and seismic loads. Thus design considerations for such tanks need
greater attention. The use of spherical bottoms slightly reduces the height of
the cylindrical shell exposed to the wind pressure for a given capacity and
adds to the overall stability of the tank against the seismic load. API-650,
BS-2654 and IS-803 are some of the most commonly used codes for storage
vessels. Both the BS-2654 and IS-803 codes do take the effect of wind loads
into account, but the approaches are quite different. IS-803 ensures that the
buckling of the tank does not occur against the expected wind pressures,
while BS-2654 takes care of local buckling caused by compressive axial
bending stresses due to wind loading.
In the present work an alternative design method has been proposed. The
 Design of steel storage tanks 385

design procedure for a cylindrical shell employs the analysis due to

Gopalacharyulu & Johns, 1 based on Donnell's shell theory and the
discussion on the above work by Tanniru, 2 while the design of the spherical
bottom incorporates the analysis made by Paliwal, Sinha & Chaudhary 3 for
a clamped shallow spherical shell on a Pasternak-type elastic foundation.

CYLINDRICAL SHELL

Analysis
The equation for axial membrane stress in a cylindrical shell due to wind
loading as given by Hampe 4 is
12h 2 x 2
1000aX-Efl 5 0 0 ( R ) ( R ) [ - ( 7 ) + 2 ( 1 ) - l ] ~ a " n 2 c ° s n O (1)

where
E ~ = Po(R/h) 3 (2)
Tanniru 2 has shown that the values of lO00ax/Efl at the root of the
generator from membrane theory is about 30% less than that from the
bending theory, obtained by Gopalacharyulu & Johns. 1 Figure 1 shows that
multiplication factor (Ks), representing the bending stress to membrane

1.8

1.6

1.4-

1.2

"-" 1.0

0.8

0.6
h
O.t.

0-2

0"00.0 o!2 o13 ,N'

0'5 0'6 o!7 08
X

Fig. 1. Relation between multiplication factor, KI, and x*/l ratio.

386 D. N. Paliwal, R. Gopal

stress ratio, lies between 1.1 and 1.4. Hence the maximum value o f K I may be
adopted as 1"5.

Design
(1) Assume the first trial thickness, h, for the bottom course of the shell
plate.
(2) For the given capacity of the tank choose an appropriate l/R ratio, as
per IS 803-1976.
(3) Calculate the value of the R/h ratio.
(4) Ascertain the maximum local wind velocity from the wind charts and
determine the corresponding wind pressure, using the equation
Po = 0.613 V 2 (3)

where Po is in N / m 2 and V is in m/s.

(5) Read the values of the factor m = 1000ax from Figs 2, 3 and 4 for the
above values of l/R and R/h ratios and multiply it by the
0.32, , , ~ ~ , ,' l i ,

0.2

0.2 41- V ~

0.20

- L = 2.0
R
0.16
uJ

~ 0.12
o

O.OB

0.04

'0.0 0.1 02 03 0 ,z, 0.5 06 O7 0,8 0:9 1,0

Xk-
1

Fig. 2. Relation between axial stress and x*/l ratio from membrane theory.
 Design of steel storage tanks 387

°'44I ! 1 1 ! I ! I I !

o.,ol

0"36

0"32

0.2 8
I
-#-=3.0
0-24

0.20

0.16

0.12!

0-04

0.0(
0.0 0-1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0-5 0.6 0-7 0.8 0.9 1.00

I
Fig. 3. Relation between axial stress and x*/l ratio from membrane theory.

corresponding multiplication factor, read from Fig. 1, or alterna-

tively by 1-5.
(6) The value of axial stress ax, given by mEfl/lO00or mPo(R/h)3/lO00,
should be less than that of the allowable stress of the material, as well
as less than the local critical buckling stress given by 5

ac-~ (4)
388 D. N. Paliwal, R. Gopal

,.2[
1.11

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7
JL=4. 0
R
U.I
0,6
~o
o
o
o
0.5,

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

" -0.0 0.2 0.4 ,~ 0.6 0.8 1.0

X
[

Fig. 4. Relation between axial stress and x*/l ratio from membrane theory.
 Design o f steel storage tanks 389

SHALLOW SPHERICAL BOTTOM

Analysis
Allowing for the provision of a ring stiffener at the junction of the shell and
the bottom, the analysis of a clamped shallow spherical b o t t o m 3 yields

w 1
= "~[Q - 2(~R)2(R/Ro)(R/h)]

× F1 -- PzRJI(p2R)Jo(plr) -plRJx(plR)Jo(pzr)]
(5)
L PzRJo(plR) -PlRJo(P2R)JI(plR) ]

"+ frrm
(6)

and

frob + from)
" ~ " = N 3 + N 2 [ +_N1 + ( R / h ) N 4 ] (7)
r=R

where

N1 = (P' R)(p2R)[p2RJ~(P~ R)J°(p2R) -Pa RJ~(p2R)J°(P~ R)]

2(1 - vZ)2[pzRJo(pl R)Jl(pz R) - Pl RJo(p2R)JI (Px R)]

N2 = [Q - 2(c~R)2(R/h)(R/Ro)](h/R) 2

N3 - (1 - v~ 2 ~ (8)

(R/Ro)[p2RJI(PzR){(2/P 1R)Jl(p~R) -- Jo(p~R)}

- p~ RJ~(pi R){ (Z/pzR)J~(pzR ) - Jo(p2R) } ]
=

(1 + v)2[p2RJo(pl R)Jl(p2R ) - p l RJo(p2R)Jl(pl R)]

In order to illustrate the distribution of the bending and m e m b r a n e stresses

in clamped spherical bottoms of steel tanks, the following data referring to
an actual cylindrical steel tank in practical use in a fertilizer plant has been
adopted:

D=4.5m Hc = 6.4m h=6mm

Material: IS-226 E = 2 x 10 6 kg/cm 2 O'allowable ~--- 1450 kg/cm 2
390 D. N. Paliwal, R. Gopal

200 1 t I I

180

160

140
Xmg020,, I.t --190
0=69104, h-~-= 375
120

O
¢.,.

~ t u 100

80

60

40

20

0
0.0 0.20 O.L,0 0.60 0'80 1.00
R
Fig. 5. Relation between radial bending stress and r/R ratio.
 Design of steel storage tanks 391

The variation of membrane and bending stresses versus the radial distance is
shown in Figs 5-9.

Design
(1) Adopt a suitable R / R o ratio for the spherical bottom within the range
0-15-0"4.
(2) Assume the bottom thickness, h, for the zone to be between 0.75R and
R.
(3) For given foundation parameters 2 and #, and the assumed values of
R / R o and R/h, read the corresponding values of the terms N~, N 2, N3
and N4 from Figs 10-15.
(4) Using eqn (6), calculate the total normal radial stress at the clamped
edge. This should be less than the allowable stress for the tank
material.
(5) The thickness of the bottom, in the zone ranging from 0 < r < 0"75R,
can be taken as half of the thickness in the outer zone, but in no case
less than 5 mm.

600

500

~o 400 X=9020~ P =190

0.=69104:,~R
h = 375
JO

300

200

100

00.0 , I ,
0~2 O.Z, 0-6 0.8 1"0
r
R
Fig. 6. Relation between tangential bending stress and r/R ratio.
392 D. N. Paliwal, R. Gopal

200

180

160 ~.;9020 , P=lg0

Q =69104, R .. 375
h

140

120
'i

~' IO0

80

60

Z.0

20

0 .I I l [ J
0.0 0'2 0/, 0.6 O.B 1.0
r
R
Fig. 7. Relation between radial membrane stress and r/R ratio.
 Design of steel storage tanks 393

+20 , .... ~ , ,

0
~ O~Z, 0.6
l,
0-8
1
1<

-20

-40

-60

-80
tt~

~w -100

I X=9020, IJ=190
69104, kR----=375
-120

-140

i
-~60 i

i
-180

-200 J i , i

Fig. 8. Relation between tangential membrane stress and r/R ratio.

394 D. N. Paliwal, R. Gopal

360 -

320 -

280-

h=9020,
Ck69104 9

160-

120-

80-

40-

0’ 1 I 1 1

o-o 0.2 04 0.6 0.8 1.0

R
Fig. 9. Relation between net radial stress and r/R ratio.
 Design of steel storage tanks 395

0-034 [ , , , , ,

o.o~o~
I
~o=O.~

0.018
4,=~00
0 014l 4=~,~

0.110[ i50 60
I
"70
I
80
I
gO 100
I , I
110 120
U
Fig. 10. Relation between term N 1 and/~.
396 D. N. Paliwal, R. Gopal

20 • ~:~

18

16 X = 50, ~= 100

12

2 10

R~_= 200
h

~ - :300 l
O I
I t 8 I t 1 ]
0 I Xl06
Q
8x, 9 ,o6

Fig. | | . Relation between term N 2 and Q.

 Design of steel storage tanks 397

I 1 ! I / I

~.=50, I~=100

z
4

0 I , 1 I I I 1 I

0 1,1o8 2,4
Q
Fig. 12. Relation between term N 2 and Q.
398 D. N. Paliwal, R. Gopal

220

200

180

160
~.= 50,1J =100

140

120

100

SO

40

20

I I | I I I I
0-
0 1xlOIB 2 xl# 3x10~ 4x108 5x1~ 6x108 7x1# 8~o 8
Q

Fig. 13. Relation between term N3 and Q.

 Design of steel storage tanks 399

220

200

leo
X = 5 0 , I1= 100

160

lJlO

120

100

80

60

40 ~_-.300

20
RIh=5O0

On
0 ~,,lo9 2,18 3,~ 4,~o9 s,,~ oxd 7xI~ 8x1(~
o
Fig. 14. Relation between term N 3 and Q.
400 D. N. Paliwal, R. Gopal

-0-5

-0.7
X =~OOq,~.O
I
f
I
-0,9 J

-1.1

-I.3

,,,x -1-5

Z
-1.7

--1.9

-2"1

-2.3

-2-5

I I I I I
-2-7~ 60 70 8O 9O IO0 110
P
Fig. 15. Relation between term N4 and/~.
 Design of steel storage tanks 401

CONCLUSIONS

The design approach followed by BS-2654 is based on the consideration of a

wind-loaded cylindrical shell as a uniformly loaded cantilever beam. The
beam is defined as a linear structure, the cross-sectional dimensions of which
are small c o m p a r e d to its length, but in cylindrical tanks height and diameter
are usually of the same order and so bending stresses in the tank due to wind
load ought to be calculated from shell theory instead of beam theory.
The present design m e t h o d developed by the authors for cylindrical shells
involves accurate bending analysis based on Donnell's equations. Similarly,
the design of the spherical b o t t o m takes into account the sufficiently
accurate bending analysis of a shallow spherical shell on Pasternak-type
elastic foundations.
The design m e t h o d proposed here is very simple, quick and handy, but at
the same time sufficiently accurate. The procedure gives a more economical
design than yielded by BS-2654.

REFERENCES

1. Gopalacharyulu, S. & Johns, D. J., Cantilever cylindrical shells under assumed

wind pressure. J. Engng Mech., 99(EM5) (1973) 943-56.
2. Tanniru, V. N., Discussion on 'Cantilever cylindrical shells under assumed wind
loading' by S. Gopalacharyulu & D. J. Johns. ASCE. J. Engng Mech., 100(EM6)
(1974) 1259-61.
3. Paliwal, D. N., Sinha, S. N. & Chaudhary, B. K., Shallow spherical shells on
Pasternak foundation. J. Engng Mech., 112(2) (1986) 175-182.
4. Hampe, E., Statik Rotations Symmertscher Flachentragwerke, Kreis-
zylindirschale, Vol. 2. Valkseigener Berktriep Verlag ffir Bauwesen, Berlin, 1964.
5. British Standard: 2654-1973.