Determination of thickness of shell courses for storage tanks using

One foot method (1FM)

Dr. Vikas Mahto

Professor
Department of Petroleum Engineering
IIT(ISM), Dhanbad-826004

This method is based on the ‘‘membrane theory’’. In this method, plate thickness for each shell
course is calculated using the circumferential stress at a point 0.3 m (1-ft) above the lower
horizontal weld seam of the shell course due to hydrostatic pressure of the stored liquid. The
reason behind this assumption is that the tank bottom plates provide restraint to reduce
circumferential stress due to hydrostatic pressure at the bottom 0.3 m (1- ft) of the lowest shell
course. Similarly, a shell course other than the lowest shell course has generally thicker shell
plates below. The plate below provides some restraint at the lower portion of the shell course in
consideration. This method is applicable for the tanks up to 61 m (200-ft) in diameter.

The required minimum thickness of shell plates shall be the greater of the values computed by
the following formula
4.9 𝐷(𝐻 − 0.3)𝐺
𝑡 = + 𝐶𝐴
𝑆
4.9 𝐷(𝐻 − 0.3)𝐺
𝑡 =
𝑆
Where.
td = design shell thickness in mm
tt = hydrostatic shell thickness in mm
D = nominal tank diameter in m.
H = height of tank in m
G = design specific gravity of the fluid
CA = corrosion allowance in mm
Sd = allowable stress for design condition
St = allowable stress for hydrostatic condition

Example 1: Determine the thickness of shell courses and number of plates for a fixed roof tank
from the following given data:
Nominal diameter of the tank = 27.4m
Height of tank = 17.5m
Specific gravity of the fluid = 0.77
Corrosion allowance in mm = 3mm
Sd = allowable stress for design condition = 160MPa for ASTM A 36 carbon steel
St = allowable stress for hydrostatic condition = 160MPa for ASTM A 36 carbon steel
Dimension of selected jumbo plate = 2.5m X 10m
The thickness of available shell plates are 4mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 14 mm , 16 mm,
18 mm and 20mm
Solution:
The required minimum thickness of shell plates shall be the greater of the values computed by
the following formula

4.9 𝐷(𝐻 − 0.3)𝐺

𝑡 = + 𝐶𝐴
𝑆

4.9 𝐷(𝐻 − 0.3)𝐺

𝑡 =
𝑆
Where
td = design shell thickness in mm
tt = hydrostatic shell thickness in mm
D = nominal tank diameter in m = 27.4m
H = height of tank in m = 17.5m
G = design specific gravity of the fluid (PMS) = 0.77
CA = corrosion allowance in mm = 3mm
Sd = allowable stress for design condition = 160MPa for ASTM A 36 carbon steel
St = allowable stress for hydrostatic condition = 160MPa for ASTM A 36 carbon steel
Dimension of selected jumbo plate = 2.5m X 10m,
Therefore, number of shell courses = 17.5/2.5 = 7 shell courses.

1st shell course

Corrosion allowance = 3mm

4.9 × 27.4(17.5 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = + 3 = 14.11 𝑚𝑚
160
4.9 × 27.4(17.5 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = = 11.11 𝑚𝑚
160

Since td > tt , a shell plate of 14mm thickness is selected.

2nd shell course

Corrosion allowance = 3mm

4.9 × 27.4(15 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = + 3 = 12.50 𝑚𝑚
160
4.9 × 27.4(15 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = = 9.50 𝑚𝑚
160

Since td > tt, a shell plate of 12mm thickness is selected.

3rd shell course

Corrosion allowance = 3mm
4.9 × 27.4(12.5 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = + 3 = 10.88 𝑚𝑚
160
4.9 × 27.4(12.5 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = = 7.88 𝑚𝑚
160

Since td > tt, a shell plate of 10mm thickness is selected.

4th shell course
Corrosion allowance = 3mm
4.9 × 27.4(10 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = + 3 = 9.27 𝑚𝑚
160
4.9 × 27.4(10 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = = 6.27 𝑚𝑚
160
Since td > tt, a shell plate of 10mm thickness is selected.

5th shell course

Corrosion allowance = 3mm
4.9 × 27.4(7.5 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = + 3 = 7.65 𝑚𝑚
160
4.9 × 27.4(7.5 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = = 4.65 𝑚𝑚
160

Since td > tt, a shell plate of 8mm thickness is selected.

6th shell course

Corrosion allowance = 3mm

4.9 × 27.4(5.0 − 0.3) × 0.77

𝑡 = + 3 = 6.04 𝑚𝑚
160
4.9 × 27.4(5.0 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = = 3.04 𝑚𝑚
160

Since td > tt, a shell plate of 6mm thickness is selected.

7th shell course
Corrosion allowance = 3mm
4.9 × 27.4(2.5 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = + 3 = 4.42 𝑚𝑚
160
4.9 × 27.4(2.5 − 0.3) × 0.77
𝑡 = = 1.42 𝑚𝑚
160

Since td > tt, a shell plate of 6mm thickness is selected.

Quantity of Plates Required for Shell Course

Circumference of tank = πD = 3.142*27.4 = 86.10m
Length of shell plate = 10m.
Therefore, number of plates required for each shell course= 86.10/10 ≈ 9 plates
Final Selection
1st shell course: 9 number of 14mm thickness 2.5m X 10m shell plates.
2nd shell course: 9 number of 12mm thickness 2.5m X 10m shell plates.
3rd shell course: 9 number of 10mm thickness 2.5m X 10m shell plates.
4th shell course: 9 number of 10mm thickness 2.5m X 10m shell plates.
5th shell course: 9 number of 8mm thickness 2.5m X 10m shell plates.
6th shell course: 9 number of 6mm thickness 2.5m X 10m shell plates.
7th shell course: 9 number of 6mm thickness 2.5m X 10m shell plates.