Ambient vibration test and finite element modeling of tall liquid storage tanks

This paper addresses the experimental and numerical investigations of the dynamic parameters, natural frequencies and mode shapes, of fixed roof, ground supported, steel storage tanks. Three tall liquid storage tanks with aspect ratios greater than unity are considered. The considered tanks have similar height of 12.190 m and different radius of 6.095, 8.00, and 9.144 m. The effect of the aspect ratio, along with the liquid level on dynamic parameters is discussed. Finite element models of tanks are constructed using the finite element package ANSYS. The fluid-structure interaction is governed in the models. Yet, before using numerical techniques for analyzing the tank-liquid systems, they should be validated by experimental results. For this purpose, a series of ambient vibration tests are carried out to determine the natural frequencies and, if possible, the modes of the vibration. Comparison between numerical and experimental values shows good agreement. The new feature considered in the paper is the influence of roof on the natural frequencies and the modes of vibration. It is found that the influence of roof on the natural frequency of vibration of the considered tanks is negligible, while it does restrain the tank top against radial deformations and has significant effect on the mode shapes of tank.