Parametric seismic fragility model for elephant-foot buckling in unanchored steel storage tanks

Vasquez Munoz, Luz Elizabeth (author), Dolšek, Matjaž (author)

The parametric seismic fragility model of elephant-foot buckling (EFB) in the tank wall of the unanchored storage tanks is introduced by utilizing the results of a parametric study of eighteen tank-soil configurations. The model can be used to rapidly assess the seismic vulnerability to EFB for a larger number of tanks. The parametric study involved a 1D cloud-based soil response analysis to relate the ground-motion intensity measure at the bedrock with that at the free surface, and a pushover analysis of the refined finite element model of the tank to assess the engineering demand parameter in terms of axial compressive stress in the tank wall and the critical value that triggers EFB. As a consequence, the parametric seismic fragility model can be applied to intensity measures at the bedrock, as it is demonstrated for the spectral acceleration at the tank’s impulsive period, S$_{e,bedrock,EFB}$, and the peak ground acceleration, PGA$_{bedrock,EFB}$. The input parameters of the introduced seismic fragility model are the harmonic average shear-wave velocity in the top 30 m of soil, V$_{s,30}$, the slenderness ratio of the tank, H/R, the ratio between radius and wall thickness of the tank, R/t, and the standard deviation of log values for the intensity measure causing EFB. The model reliably predicts the median intensity measure causing the onset of EFB in the investigated tank-soil configurations, especially when S$_{e,bedrock,EFB}$ is selected for the intensity measure. However, further investigation is required to enhance the accuracy of predicted intensity measures that trigger EFB by considering the dynamic impact between the base plate and the foundation during an earthquake and accounting for the complete soil-structure interaction effects.

• Language: English
• Keywords: unanchored steel storage tanks, parametric study, parametric model, seismic fragility model, elephant-foot buckling
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 5775–5804
• Numbering: Vol. 22, iss. 11
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-161551
• UDC: 624
• ISSN on article: 1570-761X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10518-024-01978-x
• COBISS.SI-ID: 203278851
• Publication date in RUL: 12.09.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Bulletin of earthquake engineering
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 1570-761X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 897639

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: nepritrjeni jekleni rezervoarji, parametrična študija, parametrični model, model potresne ranljivosti, izbočitev pločevine v obliki slonje noge

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: H2020
• Project number: 721816
• Name: Extreme loading analysis of petrochemical plants and design of metamaterial-based shields for enhanced resilience
• Acronym: XP-RESILIENCE

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P2-0185
• Name: Potresno inženirstvo