IJSTE - International Journal of Science Technology & Engineering | Volume 2 | Issue 03 | September 2015

ISSN (online): 2349-784X

Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type

Water Tank
Kaviti Harsha
Department of Civil Engineering
Andhra University

K. S. K Karthik Reddy
Department of Civil Engineering
Andhra University
Kondepudi Sai Kala
Department of Civil Engineering
Andhra University

Abstract
Due to enormous need by the public, water has to be stored and supplied according to their needs. Water demand is not constant
throughout the day. It fluctuates hour to hour. In order to supply constant amount of water, we need to store water. So to meet the
public water demand, water tanks need to be constructed. They are grave elements in municipal water supply, firefighting
systems and in many industrial amenities for storage of water. Intze type tank is commonly used overhead water tank in India.
These tanks are designed as per IS: 3370 i.e. Code of practice for concrete structures for storage of liquids. BIS implemented the
revised version of IS 3370 (part 1& 2) after a long time from its 1965 version in year 2009. Presently large number of overhead
water tanks is used to distribute the water for public utility. Most of the water tanks were designed as per old IS Code: 3370-1965
without considering earthquake forces. The objective of this dissertation is to shed light on the Intze water tank designed
considering the earthquake forces according to Indian standard code: 3370-2009 and draft code 1893-Part 2, (2005) considering
two mass modal i.e. impulsive and convective mode method. Intze tank supported on frame staging .Also this report includes
analysis by STAAD Pro for wind and seismic forces .Finally the results are validated with the results of manual calculation From
the present study, it was observed that, for elevated tanks the two degree of freedom idealization of tank have shown better
results when compared to single degree of freedom of idealization.
Keywords: Intze Water Tank, Base Shear, Base Moment, Full Tank Condition, Empty Condition, Displacements
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I. INTRODUCTION
The water is source of every conception. In day to day life, one cannot live without water. The overhead liquid storing tank is the
most effective storing competence used for domestic or even industrial rationale. Depending upon the location of the water tank,
the tanks can be name as overhead, on ground and underground water tank.The tanks can be made in different shapes like
rectangular, circular and intze types. The elevated water tanks are built for direct distribution of water by gravity and are usually
of smaller capacity.
Elevated water tanks are prominently in public view and visible from near as well as long distances. Intze type tank is
commonly used overhead water tank in India. Presently large number of overhead water tanks is used to distribute the water for
public utility. They often become landmarks on the landscape. It is therefore important that the shape and form of the container
and the supporting structure must receive due attention from the point of aesthetics.
Water storage tanks should remain functional in the post-earthquake period to ensure potable water supply to earthquakeaffected regions and to cater the need for fire-fighting demand. Industrial liquid containing tanks may contain highly toxic and
inflammable liquids and these tanks should not lose their contents during the earthquake. During the earthquakes, a number of
large elevated water tanks were severely damaged whereas others survived without damage.
An analysis of the dynamic behaviour of such tanks must take into account the motion of the water relative to the tank as well
as the motion of the tank relative to the ground. The current design of supporting structures of elevated water tanks are
extremely vulnerable under lateral forces due to an earthquake as it is designed for the wind forces and seismic forces.
Water tanks can experience distress in different components due to several reasons such as improper structural configuration
design, inferior materials and workmanship, corrosion of reinforcement, wind forces, earthquake forces etc. Because of large
mass, especially when the tank is full, earthquake forces are more or less govern the lateral force design criteria in the zone of
high seismic activity. In the extreme case, total collapse of tank shall be avoided. However, some damage (repairable) may be
acceptable during severe shaking not affecting the functionality of tank. Whatever maybe the cause of distress but water tanks
should fulfil the purpose for which it has been designed and constructed with minimum maintenance throughout its intended life.
In general, water retaining structure distress has been observed very early even in 9 to 10 years of service life due to some
problems related to structural aspects and over emphasis of seismic analysis in earthquake prone zones.

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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II. METHOD OF ANALYSIS

A. Code-based Procedure for Seismic Analysis
Main features of seismic method of analysis based on Indian standard 1893(Part 1):2002
1) Lumped Mass Model Method

Fig. 1: Lumped Mass Model Method

2) Two Mass Model Method

Fig. 2: Two mass model method

III. MODELLING AND ANALYSIS

For the analysis of Elevated Intze water tank following dimensions are considered which are elaborated below.

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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Fig. 1: Dimensions of the elevated intze water tank

Table 1
Design data of Elevated Intze Water tank
Components
Calculations
Weight (kN)
Radius of the dome=6.0m
Top Dome
188.5kN
262(0.125)
Top Ring Beam
(12+0.30)0.300.3025
86.94kN
Cylindrical Wall
120.15825
1131kN
Bottom Ring Beam
121.20.625
678.5kN
Circular Ring Beam
0.61.2825
452.38kN
Bottom Dome
2641.60325
1809.55kN
Conical Dome
122250.60
1130.97kN
Water
5655000+9810(/4)8810
10586kN
Columns
0.650.65816(25/4)
1081.85kN
Braces
38250.650.65
796.38kN

B. Comparative Study: Lumped Mass Vs Two Mass Model

Comparison of different seismic analysis parameters of intze tank supported on frame staging is shown in Table. In this table all
parameters for single mass modal as well two mass modal with frame staging are summarized
Sl. No
1
2
3.

Table - 4.2
Comparison of various parameters by two methods
Idealization of tank
Lumped-mass model Two-mass model
Brace beam flexibility
Neglected
Considered
Lateral stiffness of staging
17800 kN/m
17800 kN/m
Time period

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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4.

Impulsive mode
a) Tank Empty (Ti)
b) Tank Full (Ti)
Convective mode
a) Tank Full (Tc)
Design horizontal seismic coefficient:
Impulsive mode
a) Tank Empty (Ah)i
b) Tank Full (Ah)i
Convective mode
a) Tank Full (Ah)c
Base shear (V)
a) Tank Empty
b) Tank Full
Overturning Moment (M)
a) Tank Empty
b) Tank Full

0.763 s
1.23 s

1.18 s
1.80 s

------

3.705s

0.019
0.010

0.025
0.165

-------

0.033

117.818 kN
161.910 kN

154 kN
241 kN

2321.05 kN-m
3189.43 kN-m

3084 kN-m
5311 kN-m

Fig. 2.1: Plan of Intze water tank

Fig. 2.1.1: Model of Intze tank with sections

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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Fig. 2.1.2: Earthquake loading in X(+)direction

Fig. 2.1.3: Earthquake loading in z(+) direction

Fig. 2.1.4: Earthquake loading in z(-)direction

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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Fig. 2.1.5: Wind loading in x(-)direction

Fig. 2.1.6: Wind loading in z(-)direction

C. Live Loads

Fig 2.1.7: Trapezoidal load on bottom ring beam

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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Fig 2.1.8.Trapezoidal load on cylindrical wall

Fig. 2.1.9.Trapezoidal load on top ring beam

Fig 2.1.10 Self weight of the structure

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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Fig 2.1.11.Shear force diagram

Fig 2.1.12.Bending moment diagram

Fig. 2.1.13 Displacement diagram of Intze tank

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

A. Lumped Mass Model Graphical Representation
Table - 4.1.1
Hydrodynamic pressure on the wall
2
Pw (N/m )
0
727.784
1262.066
1384.963
1996.134
2202.998

y (m) (from top)

0
1
2
3
4
5

Fig. 4.1.1.Variation of hydrodynamic pressure with the depth of the cylindrical wall for lumped mass condition
Table - 4.1.2
Hydrodynamic pressure on the bottom of the tank
2
Pb (N/m )
y (m)
y/h
0
1
2
3
4
5

0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0

0
361.26
750.08
1187.63
1412.23
1789.62

Table 4.1.2: Hydrodynamic pressure on the bottom of the tank

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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B. Two Mass Model Graphical Representation

Table - 4.2.1
Impulsive hydrodynamic pressure on wall
y (m)

y/h

2
Piw (N/m )

0.2

7842.18

0.4

10967.22

0.6

14421.68

0.8

16623.42

17792.14

Fig. 4.2.1.Impulsive hydrodynamic pressure on wall

Table - 4.2.2
Impulsive hydrodynamic pressure on the bottom of tank
y (m)

2
Pib (N/m )

0
1
2
3
4
5

0
2704.36
5682.29
10845.36
16978.01
22842.69

30505.12

42796.33

Fig. 4.2.2: Impulsive hydrodynamic pressure on the bottom of tank

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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C. Convective Hydrodynamic Pressure

Table - 4.3.1
Convective hydrodynamic pressure on the wall
y (m)

y/h

Pcw (N/m2)

0.083

1986.43

0.166

2102.69

0.250

2523.40

0.333

2598.62

0.416

3691.69

0.500

4498.92

Fig. 4.3.1: Convective hydrodynamic pressure on the wall

2
y(m) Pcb (N/m )
0

361.26

750.08

1187.63

1412.23

1614.45

1789.76

1948.62

Table - 4.3.2
Convective hydrodynamic pressure on the base slab

Fig. 4.3.2: Variation of Convective hydrodynamic pressure on base slab

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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D. Comparison of Total Base Shear and Moment for Both Conditions

Fig. 4.4.1: Values of Total base shear and total base moment for tank full and tank empty conditions

E. Comparison of Time Period, Base Shear and Base Moment for Impulsive and Convective Mode of Vibration for Tank
with Full Condition

Fig. 5.5.1: Values of base shear and base moment for Impulsive and Convective mode of vibration for tank full condition

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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Fig. 5.5.2: Values of Total base shear and total base moment for tank full and tank empty conditions

V. CONCLUSIONS
Generally, when earthquake occur major failures of elevated water tank take place due to failure of supporting systems, as they
are to take care for seismic forces. Therefore supporting structures of elevated water tanks are extremely vulnerable under lateral
forces due to an earthquake. Seismic analysis and performance of elevated RC intze water tanks have been presented in this
study for frame type of staging pattern
Modelling is performed using STAAD PRO software. Further, the behaviour of elevated water tank with staging pattern is
analyzed using lumped mass model and two mass model methods. It can be observed from the analyses that elevated water tank
with frame type of staging perform better by following draft code IS: 1893 (Part-2) guidelines than earlier guidelines due to the
following characteristics.
From the comparison of impulsive and convective mode of vibration it was observed that Time Period, Base shear, Base
moment obtained by convective mode of vibration is greater than impulsive mode of vibration.
Total base shear and base moment obtained for tank full condition are more than tank empty condition by 47% and 51%
respectively. Hence design will be governed by tank full condition.
Lateral force is more in tank full condition when compared to tank empty condition and hence tank full case is considered
for seismic analysis.
Base shear obtained by two mass model is found to be increased by 36% when compared to lumped mass model method.
Overturning moment obtained by two mass model method is found to be greater than the moment obtained in lumped mass
model method by 41%.
Results from the study suggest to consider convective and impulsive components in seismic analysis of tanks.
The convective pressures during earthquakes are considerably more in magnitude as compared to impulsive pressures and its
effect is a sloshing of the water
The hydrodynamic pressure obtained by two mass model is more than that obtained by lumped mass model.
For elevated tanks, the two degree of freedom idealization of tank should be used for analysis instead of using single degree
of freedom of idealization of tank as the effect of convective hydrodynamic pressure has been included in the analysis of the
tanks.
The maximum value of forces and moments obtained from STAAD Pro tells the maximum load to which the tank is
subjected and thus critical. The check for critical members from STAAD Pro also reveals that the tank is stable for
maximum forces and moments.

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Seismic Analysis and Design of INTZE Type Water Tank

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