Analysis and Design of Elevated Circular
Over Head Water Tank
MR. V. RAJESH BABU1, MS .G. DIVYA SREE JANANI1
Mr. G. Praveen2, Dr. P. Siva Prasad3, Mr. Ch. Sri Varma2, V. Sanjay Gokul2
1
Undergraduate Student,2Asst.Professor,3Professor & Head.
Department of Civil Engineering, Dhanekula Institute of Engineering & Technology,
Vijayawada- 521139, Andhra Pradesh,
E-mail: praveen4usai@gmail.com raj90105979@gmail.com
Abstract: Storage reservoirs and overhead tank are used to
store water, liquid petroleum, petroleum products and similar
liquids. The force analysis of the reservoirs or tanks is about the
same irrespective of the chemical nature of the product. All
tanks are designed as crack free structures to eliminate any
leakage.
This project gives in brief, the theory behind the design of
liquid retaining structure (circular water tank with flexible and
rigid base and rectangular underground water tank) using
working stress method. This report also includes computer
subroutines to analyze and design circular water tank with
flexible and rigid base and rectangular underground water
tank. The program has been written as Macros in Microsoft
Excel using Visual Basic programming language. In the end, the
programs are validated with the results of manual calculation
given in the concrete structure.
Keywords: reserviours,crack
I. INTRODUCTION
Water tanks are storage containers for water; these tanks are
usually storing water for human consumption. The need for
water tanks is old as civilized man. Water tanks provide for the
storage of drinking water potable, irrigation agriculture, fire
suppression. Agricultural farming and live stoke, chemical
manufacturing, food preparation and many other applications.
Various materials are used for constructing water tanks: plastic,
polyethylene, polypropylene, fiberglass, and concrete, steel (welded
or bolted, carbon or stainless). Earthen ponds designed for water
storage are also often referred to as tanks.
“Ground water tank “is made of lined carbon steel, it may receive
water from well or surface water allowing a large volume of water to
be placed in inventory and used during peak demand cycles. Very
large water tanks may be “Elevated Water Tanks by elevating the
water tank, the increase elevation creates a distribution pressure at
the tank outlet.
The profile of water tanks begins with the application
parameters, thus the type of materials used and the design of water
tank was dictated by these variables.
1. Location of the water tank (indoors, outdoors, above ground or
underground)
2. Volume of water tank need to hold.
3. What the water will be used for.
4. Temperature of area where water will be stored, concern for
freezing.
5. Pressure required delivering water.
6. How the water to be delivers to the water tank.
7. Wind an earthquake design considerations allow water tanks to
survive
Seismic and high wind events.
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diet.cehod@gmail.com
Throughout history, wood, ceramic and stone have been used as
water tanks. These were all naturally occurring and manmade and
some tanks are still in service.
There are many custom configurations that include various
rectangular cube shaped tanks, cone bottom and special shapes for
specific design requirements.
A functional water tank/container should do no harm to the water
is susceptible to a number of ambient negative influences, including
bacteria, viruses, algae, changes in pH, and accumulation of
minerals. Correctly designed water tank systems work to mitigate
these negative effects.ave a command area more than 9000
acres.
Types of water tanks
To meet daily requirements of water by Industries, campuses,
localities, towns and cities various types of R.C. water tanks are
used such tanks may be in general, they are classified as:
1. Tanks resting on the ground level.
2. Underground tanks.
3. Elevated tanks.
The tanks may have circular or rectangular sections. Tanks
resting on ground and underground tanks have flat bottom slab
while Elevated water tanks may have flat bottom conical bottom.
Apart from the strength requirement, another essential requirement
in the design of water tank is imperviousness. To make water tanks
impervious, wider cracks should be avoided in the concrete. Which
may be achieved by
1. Use richer concrete mix, say M25 or M30
2. Give a minimum clear cover of 25mm.
3. Provide smaller diameter bars at closer intervals.
4. Keep the tensile stresses in concrete low.
5. Follow good construction practices like thorough mixing, good
compaction and
good curing.
The tanks resting on the ground like clean water reservoir,
settling tanks, aeration tank etc., are supported on the ground
directly. The walls of these tanks are subjected to pressure of soil.
The tanks may be covered on the top.
The tanks like purification tanks, Inhofe tanks, septic tanks, and
gas holders are built under ground. The walls of these tanks are
subjected to water pressure from inside and the earth pressure from
outside. The base is subjected to weight of water and soil pressure.
These tanks may be covered on the top.
Elevated tanks are supported on staging which may consist of
masonry walls, R.C.C. tower or R.C.C. columns braced together.
The walls are subjected to water pressure.
 The base has to carry load of water and tank load. The staging the system and the amount of pressure desired for the distribution
has to carry load of water and tanks. The staging is also designed for system.
wind forces. A general rule to follow is that small water systems should
. have at least 14m of pressure. This means that the bottom of the
Shapes of water tanks storage tank must be at least 14m higher than the highest tap. A
general rule is that the minimum water level in the storage tank
Design point of view the tanks may be classified as per the shape should be 20-40m above the area served. Note that the elevation of
1. Circular tanks the highest tap is 210m and that the system is built for a minimum of
2. Square tanks 14m pressure. The ground storage is on a hill at an elevation of
3. Rectangular tanks 230m which provides sufficient pressure to reach the highest tap in
4. Intz tanks the community. If no location of suitable height is available, an
5. Spherical tanks elevated storage tank may be needed.
6. Conical bottom tanks In order to save money, try to locate the storage tank as close as
7. Polygon water tanks possible to the water source and the population being served. If
possible, put it between the source and the population to limit the
Over head water tanks need for long lines of pipe. This has the advantage of drawing water
Various over head water tanks being used may be from the pump and tank drum peak demand periods.
classified as
(a) Rectangular over head water tanks
(b) Circular over head water tanks
(c) Intz type tanks
Rectangular over head water tanks are used to store water from
50,000 liters to 75, 000 liters.
Intz tanks of capacity one million liters are commonly used in water
supplies in cities.
Circular over head water tanks are used to store water up to 7,
50,000 liters.

Circular water tank

Circular concrete tanks have been used extensively in municipal
and industrial facilities for several decades.
Circular water tanks Attractive for the following reasons.
1. Simple to maintain.
2. Provide uniform water quality.
3. Settle able solids can be rapidly flushed through the
center drain.
The circular over head tanks are used to store water up to 7,
50,000 liters.The diameter varies from 5 to 15m while height varies
from 3 to 4.5 m. Fig 1Component parts of water tank
Ground level water tanks
Under suitable circumstances, ground level storage tanks may be II. LITERATURE REVIEW
used to deliver water to users by gravity flow. Storage tanks are a
B. R. K. Ingle (1999) : In this paper overhead water tank
very important part of a water system because they ensure the
structure is designed using P-DELTA effect. As per IS: 456 the final
adequate quantities of water are available to meet demand. Storage
design forces shall include the effect of deformation (P-DELTA
tanks also help in preserving water quality.
effect), and it is silent about the calculating this additional forces. As
This technical note discusses the design of ground level storage
per IS: 11682 evaluate the effective length of column and calculate
tanks and offers suggestions for locating a suitable site, determining
these forces due to its slenderness ratio.
adequate capacity and selecting appropriate construction materials.
The technical note carefully and attempt to adopt the suggestions to
the local environment to ensure successful design of the storage E. R. Livaoglu and A. Dogangun (2007) :Here attempt is made
tank. to find out the effects of supporting systems on the seismic response
The design process should result in the following three items of elevated tanks considering the fluids tructure interactions.
which should be given to the construction supervisor. Generally, when earthquake occur major failures of elevated water
tank take place due to failure of supporting systems, as they are to
1. A map of the area showing the location of the storage tank in take care for seismic forces. Therefore supporting structures of
relation to the water source and the community. Include important elevated water tanks are extremely vulnerable under lateral forces
landmarks, elevations, if known, and distances on the map. due to an earthquake
HEAD – Difference in water level known the inflow and
outflow ends of a water system. Objective
2. The list will help make sure that adequate quantities of materials
are available to prevent construction delays. ➢ To make a study about the analysis and design of
3. A plan of the storage tank with dimensions shown as in Figure 2. water tanks.
The plan shows a side, top and end view. Site Selection and Tank
location. The most important consideration in the choice of a site ➢ To know about the design philosophy for the safe and
for a storage tank is the elevation. The height of water stored,
measured from the bottom of the tank, and must produce sufficient economical
head or pressure to enable water to flow through a pipeline to the ➢ Design of an over head circular water tank.
users. The height needed is determined by the height of the taps in

2
Scope code on concrete IS 456 is in SI units. However the IS: 3370
(part2)1965 incorporates the amendment regarding the permissible
➢ The scope of the project is to design circular elevated stresses in steel reinforcement. The revised values of permissible
over head stresses are given in table converted to SI units. 10kg/cm2= 1 N/mm2

➢ Water tank for 4, 00,000 liters manually

General Requirements as per( IS : 3370- part 2- 1965) III. METHODOLOGY
Plain Concrete Structure
Working stress method
Plain Concrete members of reinforced concrete liquid structures
1) In working stress method the structures are analyzed by the
may be designed against the structural failure by allowing tension in
classical elastic theory.
plain concrete as per the permissible limits for tension in bending
specified IS : 456-2000 (i.e. the permissible stress in tension in
2) In India working stress method is widely used because of its
bending may be taken to be the same as permissible stress in shear, q
simplicity in approach.
measured as inclined tension ). This will automatically take are of
failure due to cracking. However, nominal reinforcement in 3) The stresses in the members are considered for normal working
accordance with the requirements of IS: 456 shall be provided for load conditions, and no attention is given do the condition that arise
plain concrete structural members. at the time of structural collapse.
1. Permissible Stresses in Concrete 4) The method follows linear stress-strain behaviour of both the
materials.
2. For resistance to cracking
5) Modular ratio can be used to determine allowable stresses.
IS: 456 - 2000 does not specify the permissible stresses in
concrete for its resistance to cracking. However, its earlier version Limit state method
(IS: 456-1964) includes the permissible stresses in direct tension,
bending tension and shear. The values are given in the following 1. The acceptable limit of safety and serviceability
table the permissible tensile stresses due to bending apply to the face requirements before failure
of the member in contact with liquid.
The thickness of the member should be less than 225mm and in Occurs is called limit state.
contact with the liquid on one side, the permissible stress in bending
applies also to face remote from liquid. 2. The types of limit state are considered in the design are

Tab1. Permissible concrete stresses in calculations relating to I) Strength limit state

resistance to cracking II) Serviceability limit state
Grade Direct tension Tension due to Shear
of Bending III) Durability limit state
( )
concrete N/mm2 ( ) N/mm2
3. To avoid leakage problems, limit state method of
N/mm2 design should be used in the design of water tanks.
M15 1.1 1.5 1.5
M20 1.2 1.7 1.7 4. The material capabilities are not under estimated as
M25 1.3 1.8 1.9 much as they are in working stress method. Partial safety
M30 1.5 2.0 2.2 factors are used in limit state method.
M35 1.6 2.2 2.5
M.S Excel methodology
For strength calculations 1. The analysis of circular elevated over head water tank for
4,00,000 liters Is done by using M.S Excel spread sheet.
In strength calculations the usual permissible stresses in
accordance with IS: 456-2000 is used. Where the calculated shear 2. For values purpose we are inserted the formulas in rows and
stress in concrete above exceeds the permissible value, columns.
reinforcement acting in co junction with diagonal compression in
concrete shall be provided to take whole of the shear. 3. For the analysis purpose we are inserted the I.S tables in the
1) Permissible stresses in steel reinforcement M.S Excel sheet.
a) For resistance to cracking 4. To change the any one of the values in rows and columns
the total entire values will be changed in the sheet.
When steel and concrete are assumed to act together for checking
the tensile stresses in concrete for avoidance of cracking the tensile 5. For Reinforcement purpose we are drawn the
stresses in steel with the limited requirement that the permissible Reinforcement details in the sheet.
tensile stress I concrete is not exceeded so that tensile stresses in
concrete. 6. Finally they obtained results are same as Design results.
b) For strength calculations

Though the IS code: 456 had its fourth version in 2000, the
IV. DESIGN PARAMETERS & DESIGN OF TANK
corresponding code IS: 3370 (part 1, 2, 3, 4) for concrete structures
for the storage of liquids have not been revised since 1965. The main Type of foundation: RCC with circular raft.

3
Mix proportion: M20, M25&M30. Let the tank will be assumed to be restrained at the bottom
The thickness of the tank dA = 3H+5
M20 GRADE OF CONCRETE USED IN
= (3×4) +5
1) OUTER & INNER COLUMNS
= 17cm = 0.17m
2) FOOTINGS Provide the rings@ 190mm c/c on each face. The spacing of
3) BEAMS the ring may increase towards the top and bottom from the

M30 GRADE OF CONCRETE USED IN section of maximum hoop load.

However no additional reinforcement will be provide at the
1) SIDE WALLS
inner face. Hence provide
2) ROOF SLAB
Ast = 222mm² in the vertical direction at outerface.
3) FLOOR SLAB The spacing of 8mm bars = 227mm
Grade of steel: Fe500, Fe 415. However we provide8mm bars @ 200mm

AGGREGATE: DESIGN OF BASE SLAB

The bottom slab is designed as clamped at two edges
Type of fine aggregate: River Sand
Type of coarse aggregate: Hard broken stone of granite Assume 430mm thickness of slab
Size of coarse aggregate: 20mm, 40mm.
Weight of water per m² of slab = 39200N
20mm aggregates are used in Columns, Beams & floor slab.
Self weight per m² of slab = 10750N
40mm aggregates are used in D.P.C & P.C.C.
Total P = 50000N
Mixer: Machine mixer by weight batching Hence provide 20mm dia bars @ 110mm c/c in both the
Manufacture: Opc 53 grade of cement. directions

Batching: weight batching Design of floor slab

Assumptions
Type of steel: HYSD
Slab thickness = 32cm.
Type of steel dia: 6mm, 8mm, 12mm, 16mm, 20mm
Dead load /m2 = 0.32x25 =8.0 KN
6mm & 8mm bars are used as stirrups Floor finish / m 2
= 1.0 KN
2
12mm bars are used in slabs Water load / m = 3.15x10 =31.5 KN
16mm bars are used in columns & beams Total = 40.5
Reinforcement arrangement
20mm bars are used in ring beam
Provide 3.80 x 3.80m mesh.
Type of material used for runner: country wood

Type of ply wood: Water proof

Inner ring beam

Design and analysis of circular over head water tank:
Assuming a ring beam of size 300x700mm
Design of ring beam
Provide 4 nos. of 25mm RTS at top and 2 nos. of 20mm RTS
The thickness of dome t = 100mm and 2 nos. of 16mm RTS at bottom.
t = 0.1m Provide 10mm 4 legged stirrups @
However provide ring beam of size = 300mm×230mm 4x78.5x300x665/189525= 330mm
Provide 6mm dia stirrups @200mm c/c to tie the ring in the Provide 10mm 4 legged stirrups at 300mm c/c for 1/3rd span
ring beam on either side of support and for the middle third portion
The rings are lapped with dome reinforcement provide at 400mm c/c.
Design of tank wall
The tank wall may be assumed to be free at the top

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 Adopt lateral ties (helical) of 8mm RTS at 250mm c/c.
(25mm RTS – 8 nos.)

25 mm RTS- 8 no's

8mm ties @ 250c/c

Outer ring beam

Diameter = 13.15m
Ring beam of size 350x900mm CENTRAL COLUMN OF 400MM DIA
Provide 10 mm 2 legged stirrups @ 2x78.5x350x865/157435
Fig. Central column
= 301mm
Provide 10 mm 4 legged stirrups at 250mm c/c for 1/3rd span Design of footing for outer column
on either side of support and for the middle third portion Load on outer column = 590.51 KN
provide at 400mm c/c. Load due to seismic effect = 150.47 KN
Design of inner column Load due to seismic effect is more than 25% of column load.
Provide 8 nos. of 16mm RTS rods Hence the load due to seismic effect need to be considered
and the SBC shall be actual SBC.
16mm RTS-8 no's

8mm RTS stirrups @ 250mmC/C

CROS SECTION OF INNER COLUMN 300MM*300MM

Column
Adopt 8mm RTS at 180 mm c/c Fig. Reinforcement details of column

Design of Central Column: (400mm dia)

Load from floor slab = 0.785x8.572x 40.5x.25
= 583.74KN
Weight of drop = 2.85x2.85x.12x25
V. DESIGN COMPONENTS RESULTS
= 24.37 KN
Design components results
Area of steel = 2.4/100x400x400 = 3840 mm2. Particulars Features
Provide 8 nos. of 25mm RTS.
Ast provided = 3988mm2. capacity 4,00,000 liters

5
 Internal [4] IS456-1978
11.16m
diameter
First Author V Rajesh Babu obtained B.Tech (Civil Engg.) from
Staging height 12.00m JNT University Kakinada, He participated in many national seminars &
events.

Storage depth 4m
Second Author G Diya sree Janani obtained B.Tech (Civil
Engg.) from JNT University Kakinada, She participated in many national
Free board 200mm seminars & events.

Third Author
Scour depth 150mm G Praveen obtained B.Tech (Civil Engg.) from Nagarjuna University,
M.Tech (Structural Engg.) from JNT Kakinada. He participated in many
national & International Conferences & Workshops.
Thickness of
roof slab and 100mm Fourth Author
dome

Design of
columns inside 250mm
the tank

Thickness of P Siva Prasad obtained B.E. (Civil Engg.) from Osmania University, M.E.
380mm (Structural Engg.) from University of Indore and Ph.D. from IIT Madras. He
floor slab M30
has over 20 years of teaching and research experience with more than 10
publications to his credit.
Thickness of
175mm Fifth Author
side wall M30
Ch Sri Varma obtained B.Tech (Civil Engg.) from Nagarjuna University,
Size of outer M.Tech (Structural Engg.) from JNTU Kakinada. He participated in many
350mm national & International Conferences & Workshops. He works broadly in
ring beam
the area of special concretes.

Number of outer
8nos
column M20
Sixth Author

Size of outer
350x350mm
column M20

VI. CONCLUSION
1. The circular elevated over head water tank is designed both V Sanjay Gokul obtained B.Tech (Civil Engg.) from Nagarjuna
manually and analytically for 4, 00,000 liters. University, M.Tech (Structural Engg.) from S.R.M University. He has wide
2. The roof slab, ring beam, tank wall and base slab are designed in Knowledge in special concretes and published few Journals.
working stress method. Columns, Beams, Braces and footings are
designed in limit state method.
3. The design values are obtained as follow
a.) The total no. of inner columns & outer columns of 16 no.
with a size of 350X350mm. Centre column of one number with a
size of 400mm diameter.

REFERENCES
REFERENCES

[1] Reinforced Concrete Reservoirs and Tanks, by W.S.Gray,

Concrete publications,Ltd.London,Second Edition,1942
[2] Serviceability of Pre stressed concrete tanks, by Amin Ghali and
Eleanor Elliot, ACI Structural Journal, may-june, 1992.
[3] IS 456-2000