DESIGN CRITERIA FOR STRUCTURAL FRP COMPOSITES

The design of the fiberglass portions of these tanks follows guidance from the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers Standard. ASME-RTP-1-95
(REINFORCED THERMOSET PLASTIC CORROSION RESISTANT EQUIPMENT),
and ASTM-4097-95a (STANDARD SPECIFICATION FOR CONTACT-MOLDED
GLASS-FIBER-REINFORCED THERMOSET RESIN CORROSION RESISTANT
TANKS), as noted through out this document. These standards were written for the
design of large fiberglass tanks used for the storage of corrosive chemicals and are
considered very conservative by the fiberglass industry.
For all static, sustained load cases a margin of safety of 10 will be adhered to above
the laminates ultimate tensile strength as prescribed in ASTM-RTP-1, section 3A-
210. In general, this gives an allowable stress for sustained load cases of 1500 psi.
For transient, or live load situations a margin of 5 will be maintained above the
laminates ultimate tensile strength as prescribed in ASTM-RTP-1, section 3A-440. In
general this gives an allowable stress of 3000 psi for these cases. See Appendix A
for select information from these standards.
The deflection criteria which is used for the design of these tanks while under the
hydrostatic load are as follows:

A) A) For the design of the FRP panels and top flange a deflection
limit of L/300 is adhered to.
B) B) For the design of the perimeter of the window opening along
each span a deflection limit of L/300 is adhered to.
No deflection requirements are adhered to for the seismic load case.
The criteria for the steel stands are to have a maximum stress allowable of 22,000
psi in any member, for any load case.

MATERIAL PROPERTIES AND LAMINATES

The structural laminates considered in this analysis are of general-purpose ortho-
polyester resin with E-type fiberglass reinforcement. The laminates utilized in the
construction of these tanks will be of the Type II Laminates as given in ASTM-RTP-1,
table 2A-1, 3 (See appendix A). The thickness for different regions of the tanks are
as described in shop drawings for each individual tank, and are noted throughout this
report.
The laminate properties listed here along with the minimum thickness as described
herein are considered design minimums, which must be maintained during the
manufacturing of the tanks. Thicknesses are considered minimum structural
thicknesses. This thickness’ do not include any corrosion barrier or suffice finish
enhancement layers. These thicknesses’ can be increased at the discretion of the
manufacturer for reasons such as surface finish etc.

PROPERTY -------------------------------Type II Laminate = Alternate Layers 24

oz. WR, 1.5 oz. CSM
Density (lbs/cu.in.)----------------------.05 - .07
% fiber volume--------------------------30 or greater
Tensile modulus (psi)--------------------1.3 e6
Shear modulus (psi)---------------------0.40 e6
Ult. Tensile strength (psi)----------------15000
Ult. Compressive strength (psi)----------15000
Ult. Flexural strength (psi)---------------19000
Ult. Shear In-Plane (psi)-----------------7800
Interlaminar Shear (psi)------------------1500
The structural core to be used in the sandwich panel regions of the fiberglass tanks
will be of end grain balsa wood typically used in marine construction.
The density and mechanical properties of the cores used in this analysis are provided
below.

PROPERTY Balsa Properties

Density (lbs/cu.ft.) 7.5 min.
Shear strength (psi) 432
Shear modulus (psi) 23,100
Compressive modulus (psi) 590,000