Verification of the design for above ground tank installation at ....

Points to note in this structural set-up include:

1. The reinforced concrete saddles will regularly resist vertical point
loads, which will always be compression loads. Since concrete
properly resists compression loads (which in this case is most
common), we have to:-
(i) compare the applied load due to the tank and fuel oil and
relate their sum to the self weight of the saddles,
provided the soils ground beneath is of good bearing
capacity.
(ii) Cater for lateral loads like strong winds or forces that
may arise from truck collision due to break failure, for
instance. In this case, we need to consider strapping of
the tank, with the straps fixed in concrete using well
grouted 20mm J-bolts. In addition, for a stable base, I
suggest we use a circular groove on top of the saddles
other than the selected steel cradle, why? If we use these
cradles, they will be liable to facing bearing stresses,
which might necessitate the use of very thick steel thus
increasing the cost of material. In addition, it may not be
simple to find a fabricator with skills good enough to
properly fabricate this cradle with such a curve and yet
maintain the horizontality of the tank.
2. I have not visited this site but if the ground is of good murram (red
soils) to a good depth, then by normal practise, its bearing capacity
should not be less than 150KN/sq.m. Therefore, our effective bearing
stress due to the fuel oil, tank weight and saddle weight, applied to
each saddle should not exceed 150KN/sq.m as will be detailed
below.

The expected volume of furnace oil in the tank is = 20,000litres = 20cubes.

Unit weight of furnace oil = 935Kg/cu.m

= 9350N/cu.m
= 9.35KN/cu.m
So, weight of the 20cubes = 20 x 9.35
= 187KN----(1)

Tank radius = 2.2m

Tank height = 5.4m

Surface area for the 20,000litre tank

= 2pi.r(r + h)
= 2 x 3.14 x 2.2(2.2+5.4) cu.m
= 105sq.m
Plate thickness = 6.3mm = 0.0063m.
Therefore, volume of tank plates
= 0.0063 x 105
= 0.6615cu.m

Unit weight of steel = 77KN/cu.m

So, weight of tank = (77 x 0.6615) KN

= 50.94KN --------(2)

Unit weight of reinforced concrete

= 24KN/cu.m

Volume of each saddle

=(0.5 x (0.3+1.0+0.75) + (0.3 x 0.3 x 2)) x
2.5cu.m
= 1.7625cu.m
The equivalent self weight due to the saddle
= 1.7625 x 24KN
= 42.3KN --------(3)

Weight application on each saddle will be

= (1/2 (the weight due to furnace oil + the tank) + weight due to self
weight of the reinforced concrete saddle)
= (0.5 x (187 + 50.94)) + 42.3)KN
= 161.27KN.

The base of each saddle is of area

= 2.5 x 1.1sq.m
 = 2.75sq.m

Therefore, the unit applied weight per square (assuming the tank is full with
furnace oil),
= 161.27/2.75
= 58.644KN/sq.m ----(4)

Since the effective stress applied at the bottom of each saddle is less than
150KN/sq.m (assuming the ground is very good), I think the design is
structurally suitable for application. However, I request that the tanks are
made to sit directly on the saddles by creating a curved finish on the saddles
and insist on strapping the tanks.