Session: DA-02-01 Design and Analysis of Piping and Components - 1

Paper Number: 84302

84302 - Analysis of Buckling Scenarios in Large Storage Tanks 

Chemical and other liquids are often stored in large tanks for distribution. Because of their geometry and relatively small thickness and aspect ratios, these structures can be modeled as thin shells. Consequently, these structures may buckle as a result of excessive lateral pressure and/or internal vacuum created by a large drop in the inside air temperature or draining without venting the head space above the liquid. Thin shells are common structural configurations and are used in a wide variety of applications. Large cylindrical tanks containing liquid are essentially thin-walled shells which may be constructed using  inner and outer linings filled with fiberglass for insulation.  Such structures may be under axial, lateral, torsional, or combined loads.  

In this paper the governing differential equation for stability of a vertical cylindrical shell under external pressure is derived and solved numerically. The critical pressure differential for buckling of a vertical cylindrical shell with closed ends subjected to uniform axial and radial pressure is known from basic theories of buckling. These equations combined with the basic concepts of the thermodynamics are used to determine the critical pressure for lobar buckling caused by the internal vacuum cased by a large drop in the air temperature or by draining without venting.  The results show that each of these possibilities can cause failure of the tank. Possible scenarios to minimize failure and improved design considerations are discussed in the paper.
 

Presenting Author: Enayat Mahajerin Saginaw Valley State Univ

Presenting Author Biography: Enayat Mahajerin is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Saginaw Valley State University.<br/>He is a Fellow of ASME and his teaching and research interests are Mathematical Modeling, Computational Methods, Design and Failure Analysis of Structures.

Authors:

Enayat Mahajerin Saginaw Valley State Univ