Proposition of economic ring-stiffener cross-section to meet the requirements of wind-buckling stability of open-top cylindrical tank

Abstract

The present study compares the effect of C and T section steel beam, as the ring stiffener, on the buckling behaviour of open top, short, large diametric, cylindrical, steel tank under moderate and severe wind conditions of Indian subcontinent. The slenderness ratio of the tank shell has also been varied to study its effects on wind-induced buckling, too. Fluid structure interaction analyses have been used to assess the wind-induced buckling of the cylindrical tank by combining computational fluid dynamics and structural mechanics. The numerical model has been validated with established experimental literatures to ensure the accuracy of the present analyses. This study exhibits that, unlike T section, the application of C section as wind-girder is more economic and satisfactory towards the necessary buckling stability requirements as per conventional design guidelines of open top cylindrical tank. Thus, the authors propose the usage of C section as ring-stiffener of open top cylindrical tanks.