Strenght of Tank Support System for a Small Spherical Tank

Abstract

A comparatively small spherical tank can be supported by ring support system which support the tank along a latitude of the lower hemisphere (see Fig. 1). This report describes the study on the strength of the ring support system for a small spherical tank. The study has been made by the following methods : 1) Water test using a model tank of 3m diameter and 3.2mm shell thicness in upright condition and 30°heel condition. 2) FEM stress analysis for the mode1 tank and an actual tank. The main findings from the above study are as follows : 1) The stresses around the support ring measured in the model tank test agree well with the FEM analysis in both upright and 30° heel conditions, which proves the propriety of the analysis method. 2) The test in 30° heel condition proves that the specially designed stopper of the tank movement works effectively. 3) The FEM stress analysis for the actual tank proves that ring support system is practically applicable to an actual tank.