Combined Seismic and Thermal Analysis of an LPG Double Wall Tank

Mohammad T. A. Alkhamis¹, S. Hossein Sonbolestan^2, and S. R. Sabbaqh²

¹Civil Engineering Department, College of Technological Studies, Kuwait, Kuwait

²Civil Engineering Department, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Cite this paper:
Mohammad T. A. Alkhamis, S. Hossein Sonbolestan and S. R. Sabbaqh. Combined Seismic and Thermal Analysis of an LPG Double Wall Tank. American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture. 2023; 11(3):70-76. doi: 10.12691/ajcea-11-3-2

Abstract

Extra-large double-walled cryogenic storage tanks that are used to store LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) in the low temperature are known as Full Containment Tank (FCT). The tank design shall include normal operating conditions, such as liquid hydrostatic loads and thermal loads, and abnormal conditions, such as seismic loads. The detailed and accurate design of an FCT subjected to seismic conditions combined with thermal and hydrostatic loads is a complex analysis. In the present paper, Finite Element Method (FEM) simulation is a feasible and efficient method to predict stresses and displacements of the FCT 3-D model. Two analyses, seismic analysis, and combined thermal-seismic analysis, are run to compare the results and compute thermal effects on the seismic responses. The first model of FCT is subjected to hydrostatic loads and seismic loads with slashing liquid waves, while the second model of FCT is analyzed with hydrostatic loads and thermal stresses. The resulting displacements are applied to the tank model elements as initial conditions to run the model for seismic analysis. Comparing simulation results show that thermal stress effects on the final seismic responses are not ignorable.

Keywords:
Full containment tank LPG storage tank thermal analysis seismic design combined thermal and seismic loads

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