engleski

Numerical study of pressures on liquid storage tanks caused by sloshing during an earthquake

The paper briefly presents a numerical study which investigates the sloshing effects of liquid in storage tanks subjected to seismic forces. Tanks are used to store a variety of liquids, e.g. water for drinking and fire fighting, petroleum, chemicals, liquefied natural gas etc. Satisfactory behavior of tanks during strong ground motions is crucial for modern facilities. Sloshing effects and pressure changes on the walls and the roof of liquid storage tanks during an earthquake can cause the failure of the tank, where the collapse of the container has significantly higher consequences than the value of the container and its contents. A collapse of the water tank (water tower or similar) leads to the disruption of the water supply and subsequently to a possible spread of infections. On the other hand, a collapse of tanks that store flammable materials (oil, gas...) leads to environmental pollution, but also to extensive uncontrolled fires. The numerical model used is based on the SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) method which can precisely simulate and accurately determine the free surface of the fluid and the pressure that it produces on the tank’s walls and roof due to sloshing actions during the earthquake. The chosen method can simulate the most important nonlinear effects of the fluid, like fluid viscosity, turbulence and cavitation. Some of the model’s possibilities are illustrated in a practical example.

3D sloshing; SPH; smoothed particle hydrodynamics; earthquake; pressure

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