H

-1.5
L
Flat-walled tanks due to their mechanically disadvantageous shape are used for low
hydrostatic pressure only. The quantity of material required for rectangular tanks is
higher than for cylindrical vessels of the same capacity. However, sometimes the applica-
tion of rectangular tanks is preferable because of their easy fabrication and the good
utilization of space.

MAXIMUM SIZE
Unstiffened tanks may be not larger than 30 cu. ft. and tanks with stiffenings, 140 cubic
0.01 .02 0.03 0.04 0.05
feet capacity.
VALUES OF 0:
For larger tanks, the use of stay rods is advisable for economic reasons.
IN FORMULAS FOR RECTANGULAR TANKS·
RATIO OF SIDES
If all sides are equal, the length of one side: B= W ; where V = volume cu. ft.
Preferable ratio: Longer side: 1.5 B; Shorter side: 0.667 B

DESIGN
The formulas on the following pages are based on maximum allowable deflection
A = L/500, where L denotes the longer side of the plate. Allowable stress for the plate
material may be taken as allowed by the ASME Code for Pressure Vessels Section VIII
Div. 1. The values of 0: used in the formulas depend on the proportion of the sides and
are plotted in the chart on the facing page.
WELDING OF PLATE EDGES
Some preferable welded joints of plate edges:

LL~
The stiffenings may be attached to the tank wall either by intermittent
welding and may be placed inside or outside.
or continuous

~RoOlYX!J.: ~qyf")ov')c( ~~W"'\ulOS ~,~ ctr)c{'St'm:"," L(':~rt;~""1 ~ ~

'-hI! ~"C'OVV)~"'Y/1~~ (lV)Co('~",,~ -+Ae WMo.J/~ oof\hj~;(l<";_ """1.<0
(
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Other design methods are offered in the following papers:
! Vojtaszak, I. A.:
Mech., Vol. 3 No.2,
Stress and
1936.
Deflection of Rectangular Plates, ASME Paper A·71, Journal Appl.

Timoshenko, S. and S. Woinowsky·Krieger: "Theory of Plates and Shells", 2nd edition, McGraw-
·The data used in plotting this curve were taken from "Vegyipari Kesziilekek Szerkesztese"
\ . Hill Uook Company, 1959. Budapest, 1969, by Balhs Szantay.
lit p,'L. J D• .,mnnd. "Form ••'". £Or Qt •••• god Str2inu Fourth J;djtion U ...Crgw Hilt Rook Como •• u
 RECTANGULAR TANKS RECTANGULAR TANKS
UNDER HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE EXAMPLES

NOTATION
DESIGN DATA
a = factor depending on ratio of length and height of tank, HIL (see chart on Capacity of-the tank: 600 gallon = 80 cu. ft. approximately
page 159 )
Content: water; G = I
E modulus of elasticity, psi.; 30,000,000 for carbon steel
G = specific gravity of liquid
The side of a cube-shaped tank for the designed capacity: \0/80 = 4.31 ft.
Preferred proportion of sides:
J = moment of inertia, in.4
L = 4.31 x 1.5 = 6.47 ft. == 78 inc:l1~
I maximum distance between supports, inches
H = 4.31 x .667 = 2.87 ft. =·34 inches)
L = length of tank, inches
Width of the tank 4.31 ft. =-S2inches·
R reaction with subscripts indicating the location, Ib./in.
S = 13750,usingSA285Cmaterial
S = stress value of plate, psi. as tabulated in Code, Tables UCS-23
Corrosion allowance: 1/16 in.
1 = required plate thickness, inches
HIL = 34/78 = 0.44; a = 0.0045
IV load per unit of length Ib./in.

I_ 2.45 L Jo.HOf36 G

Thickness, 1 may be used aiso for the

bottom plate if its entire surface is
supported.
Thickness, 1 shall be increased in
corrosive service.

w = 0.036x I x342 = 20.808 Ib./in. R1 = O.3x20.808 = 6.24

_0.036 GH2 R. -0.3 IV
IV 2 R2 -0.7 IV 2 R2= 0.7 x 20.808 = 14.57

I . = 1.25 6.24x783 = 0.123 in.4

mm 30,000,000
1~x 1~xv.. (.14 in.4) satisfactory for stiffening at the top of the tank.
I x I x 1/8 angle may be used for all edges if that type of joint has been
chosen. (See page 158 )

BOTTOM PLATE
BOTTOM PLATE WHEN SUPPORTED BY BEAMS
WHEN SUPPORTED BY BEAMS if number of beams = 4; 1 = 26 inches

I , t = 2~ 13750 = 0.196 in.,

1.254 va S H
0.036G 1.254 0.036xl x34

Or using the plate thickness 0.125 as calculated above, the maximum

spacing for supports:
 RECT ANGULAR TANKS
RECT ANGULAR TANKS
WITH VERTICAL STIFFENINGS
Under Hydrostatic Pressure
EXAMPLES
WITH VERTICAL STIFFENINGS

Factor depending on ratio of length and height, H/L DESIGN DATA

Content: Water
(see chart on page 159 ) L = 78 inches
G = 1
H = height of tank, inches H = 34 inches
G = specific gravity of liquid B = 52 inches (width)
I = distance between stiffenings, inches S = 13750 psi.
S = stres~ value of plate, psi., as tabulated in ASME Code. t = 0.125 in.
t = requIred plate thickness, inches
W = load,lbs.

MAXIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN STIFFENINGS

Assuming a value for a = 0.032, H/L = 1.4 (from chart, page 159 )

Lr-I 1 13750
[032lC 0.036 x 1 x 34
- .
- 33.7 10.
L

MAXIMUM
DISTANCE BETWEEN
STIFFENINGS
J ·0.455 tV ~ o.oJlc H
REQUIRED SECTION MODULUS OF AREA IXH

If 1 is 26 inches (one third of length of the tank),

H/t = 34/26 = 1.31; a. = 0.0295

26 x 0.036 x 1 x 343 36789

REQUIRED SECTION 220,000
z. Ix 0.OJ6GH3 16 x 13750
MODULUS OF
16S
AREA IXH

LOAD ON
AREA IXH
W.0.OJ611f2
2
G
"
The minimum required section modulus of stiffenings:

Two 1-1/2)( 1-1/2><3/16 angles are satisfactory for stiffening.

SECTION MODULUS z·1.l!.

OF TANK-PLATE 6
 RECTANGULAR TANKS RECTANGULAR TANKS
Under Hydrostatic Pressure WITH HORIZONTAL STIFFENINGS
WITH HORIZONTAL STIFFENINGS EXAMPLES

NOTATION DESIGN DATA

Designed capacity = 1,000 gallon = 134 cu. ft. (approx.)
Q = factor depending on ratio of length and height, H/L (see chart on page 159 ) Conten t : water
E= modulus of elasticity, psi.; 30,000,000 for carbon steel S = 13750 psi., using SA 285 C material
G= specific gravity of liquid Corrosion allowance = 1/16 in.
H= height of tank, inches
I = moment of inertia, in.4 The side of a cube-shaped tank for the designed capacity: V"i34 = 5.12 ft.
L = length of tank, inches Preferred proportion of sides:
p = pressure of liquid, psi. width = 0.667 x 5.12 = 3.41 ft; approx. 42 inches
R = reaction with subscripts indicating the location, Ib./in. H = 1.500 x 5.12 = ., .68 ft; appro'!.. 92 inches
S = stress value of plate, psi., as tabulated in ASME Code L = 5.1 2 ft; approx. 60 inches
, = required plate thickness, inches
w= load per unit of length Ib./in. CALCULATION OF STIFFENINGS:
For height 92 in., 2 stiffenings are required

H, h, f :~L._ The spacing of stiffenings: (see tables on facing page)

HJ = 0.45 H = 41 in., H2 = 0.30 H = 28 in., H3 = 0.25 H = 23 in., hi = 41 in.
h2 4"tz 2 h2 = 69 in.
load w _ 0.0~6 GH Ibltn:
H
H2 h3 hl;hl C'- ~ •
w. = 0.5 x 0.036
x 1 x 41 = 30.31b./in. 2
W2= 0.5 x 0.036 x I x 692= 85.7 Ib./in.
l-.R2- ~ R.= 0.7 x 30.3 = 21.2 R2= 0.7 x 85.7 = 60.0
H

L
~ Required moment of inertia: 1-/.15R r; In.4
1.25 x ~1 = 1.25x21.2 = 26.5 1.25 x R2 = 1.25x60.0 = 75.0
L3 603
when H in inches = E= 30,000,000 = 0.0072
REQUIRED NUMBER I. = 0.0072 x 26.5 = 0.1908 in.4 = 0.0072 x 75.0 = 0.54 in.4
OF STIFFENINGS 60-84 84·120 120-156 > 156 /2
I %xB4x~ angle (1=0.23) 2t;2x2~x3/16 angle (1=0.55)
1 2 3 4
This size of angle may be used also at the top.

REQUIRED PLATE THICKNESS:

H, H2 H3 H. Hs
t - 2.45 LJQn.l1J- III Pressure of liq uid: Pn- 0.036 G hn-~+hn
SPACiNG OF 1 0.60H 0.40 H
0.45H 41 h. P. _0.738 _ _ -s
STIFFENINGS 2 0.30 H 0.25 H '.=0.036 J =0.036xT=0.738, T- 13750 - 0.0000536-5.36xI0
3 0.37 H 0.25 H 0.21 H 0.17 H
4 0.31H 0.21 H 0.18 H 0.1~6 H 0.14H h.~h2 41 + 69 P2 _ 1.980
~ •• 0.036-2-= 0.036 x- -= 1.980, T - 13750 = 0.000144 = 14.4 x lO-s

LOAD Ib./in. w
_ 0.036Gh2
2
1lJ=0.036¥=0.036X69~92=2.898,
2
!f = ~':~:O =0.000211 =2I.I xlO-s

H./L= 41/60 = 0.683, H2/1. = 28/60 = 0.467, H3/L = 23/60 = 0.383

Values ofafrom chart on page: 159
3
ClC.=O.Oll = II x 10-3, lX2=0.0055 = 5.5 x 10-3, ClC3=0.0038= 3.8 x 10-
MINIMUM MOMENT
OF INERTIA FOR
STIFFENING
1-/.15R r; where R-0.7 w Q.~=ll xI0·3xS.36xlO·5 = ,lX2~=5.5x10-3X14.4lCI0·5 = ,ClC3!f=3.8x10·3x21.b10-S =
58.96 x 10-8 79.2 x 10-8 80.18 X 1O-11
'. = 2.45 x 60 \"58.96 x 10 8 = 147 x 7.68 x 10-4 = 0.113 in.
'2 - 2.45 x 60 "79.2 x 10-1 = 147 x 8.90 x 10-4 •• 0.131 in.
REQUIRED PLATE '-1.45 L../Qn 1]
THICKNESS t3=2.45x60v'80.18xl0 8 =147x8.95xlO-4-0.132in.
&. •••••••• ,.. •• ""IGt. th;,..Ir"''''I!C!· ",,...,,,&,.,·,,,," al1n.u.rGft •.••• n 1 R'7Q'. 1:111:..
n 1'1C'2 "'- n n~.,< •.. ",ll:It. _~
 TIE ROD S U p.p 0 R T
FOR RECTANGULAR TANKS
Under Hydrostatic Pressure

To avoid the use of heavy stiffenings, the sides of large tanks may be supported Vessels or parts of vessels subject to thinning by corrosion, erosion or mechanical
most economically by tie rods. abrasion shall have provision made for the desired life of the vessel by suitable
increase in the thickness of the material over that determined by the design
NOTATIONS
formulas, or by using some other suitable method for protection (Code UG-25 a).
A Required cross sectional area of
tie rod, sq. in.
a = horizontal pitch, in. The Code does not prescribe the magnitude of corrosion ,allowance except for
b = vertical pitch, in. vessels with a required minimum thickness of less than 0.25 in. that are to be
G= specific gravity of liquid used in steam, water or compressed air service, shall be provided with corrosion
P =
pressure of liquid, lb. allowance of not less than one-sixth of the calculated plate thickness. The sum of
S stress value of rod material, psi.
the calculated thickness and corrosion allowance need not exceed ~ in. (Code UCS-25)
t = required plate thickness, in.

For other vessels when the rate of corrosion is predictable, the desired life of the
REQUIRED
PLATE t :: 100 VO•036 G h vessel will determine the corrosion allowance and if the effect of the corrosion
THICKNESS is indeterminate, the judgment of the designer. A corrosion rate of 5 mils per year
(1/16 in. = 12 years) is usually satisfactory for vessels and piping.
LOAD ON
TIE ROD The desired life time of a vessel is an economical question. Major vessels are
usually designed for longer (15-20 years) operating life time, while minor vessels
REQUIR~D CROSS for shorter time (8-10 years).
SECTIONAL AREA A=L
s
OF TIE ROD
The corrosion allowance need not be the same thickness for all parts of the vessel
if different rates of attack are expected'for the various parts (Code UG-25 b).

There are several different methods for measuring corrosion. The simplest way
DESIGN DATA is the use of telltale holes (Code UG-25 d) or corrosion gauges.
Length=30 ft., width=12 ft., height=15 ft.
a = 60 in.
b = 60 in.
G = I All pressure vessels subject to internal corrosion, erosion, or mechanical abrasion
S = 20,000 psi. shall be provided with inspection opening (Code UG46).

t=~&
200 V
10.036xlxI20=0.625=5/8in.plate <
12'
To eliminate corrosion, corrosion resistant materials are used as lining only, or
for the entire thickness of the vessel wall.

P2 = abO.036Gh2 = 60x60xO.036x120 = 15,552Ib. ~ The rules of lining are outlined in the Code in Part UCL, Appendix F and Par.
A2 = 15,552 = 0.778 sq. in. = I ¢l rods UG-26. .
20,000
The vessel against mechanical abrasion can be protected by plate pads, which is
PI = abO.036Ghl = 60x6OxO.036x60 = 7,776 lb. welded or fastened by other means to the exposed area of the vessel.

A = 7,776 = 0.389 sq. in. = 3/4 J. rods In vessels where corrosion occurs, all gaps, narrow pockets shall be avoided by
1 20,000 'I'
joining parts to the vessel wall with continuous weld.