Liquid-containment shells of revolution: A review of recent studies on strength, stability and dynamics

In civil engineering, shell structures are widely used as liquid-containment vessels. Understanding how the shell responds to relevant loading conditions is important for the design of safe and economical liquid-containment shell structures. This paper reviews recent research on the strength, stability and vibration behaviour of liquid-containment shell structures, and traces the developments pertaining to the design of these facilities to withstand various loading and environmental effects such as liquid pressure, wind pressure, ground movement and thermal effects. Results of recent feasibility studies of non-conventional shell forms for liquid containment are also reported, and areas of focus for future research are suggested.