[DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS OF RC

STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]

DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

CONSIDERATIONS OF
REINFORCED CONCRETE
STRUCTURES FOR WATER
UTILITIES

Prepared by
ADNAN NAJEM LAZEM
M.Sc. in Structural Engineering

CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Introduction
Examples of reinforced concrete structures for water utilities
Advantages of reinforced concrete structures
Disadvantages of reinforced concrete structures
Design considerations
Construction considerations
Summary

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INTRODUCTION
In 1907, Leonard Metcalf, a Boston civil engineer whose specialty was water
supply issues, and Harrison Eddy, superintendent of the sewer department in Worcester,
Massachusetts, were introduced by a professor at Worcester Polytechnic. Shortly
thereafter, they decided to join forces and create an environmental engineering firm called
Metcalf & Eddy.
Wilmington, Delaware
10 million gallon covered water storage tank
construction completed at December 2007

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[DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS OF RC

STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]

IRAQ, BAGHDAD
Complex of Twin Apartment water storage tanks
Construction completed at march 2010
375,000 cubic meters storage capacity

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[DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS OF RC

STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]

Pile foundation of the RC water tank Reservoir

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STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]

Final Stages of the RC Tank Construct

ADVANTAGES
1. Easily adaptable to a myriad of different shapes & architectural treatments
2. Many contractors have the capability to place reinforced concrete
3. Reinforced concrete contractor will likely already be on site
4. Durability, Proven track record of over 100 years
DISADVANTAGES
1. Owner preferences may dictate against using reinforced concrete
2. Cost considerations due to quantity of materials required
3. Construction nuances
4. Cracking & durability
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
1. Seismic loads
2. Floatation
3. Abnormal pressure loads
4. Retaining elements
5. Influence of adjacent / superimposed structures
6. Integration into existing facilities
7. Security
8. Details, Details, Details!
9. Liner systems
SEISMIC LOADS

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[DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS OF RC

STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]
According to ACI 350 in chapter four Art (4.1), for Earthquake
pressures above base, the walls of liquid-containing structures shall be
designed for the following dynamic forces in addition to the static pressures:
a. inertia forces Pw and Pr ;
b. hydrodynamic impulsive pressure Pi from the contained
liquid;
c. hydrodynamic convective pressure Pc from the contained
liquid;
d. dynamic earth pressure from saturated and unsaturated
soils against the buried portion of the wall;
e. the effects of vertical acceleration.

BUOYANCY
A reinforced concrete reservoir or any tank is a boat. A boat floats if designed
Right. Therefore a design checks is required:
1. Buoyant force (uplift) on bottom slab
2. Buoyant force causing tank to float
3. Reduced base slab friction if tank sliding (uneven backfill) is a design consideration
SECURITY
Any reservoir requires security considerations.
1. How will the reservoir be inspected?
2. How will venting be accomplished?
3. Will public access be required of the top slab?
DETAILS
1. Minimum Concrete Strength
2. Minimum Reinforcing Steel
3. Expansion and Construction Joints
4. Waterstops
MINIMUM ACI.350 CODE REQUIREMENT:
1. Min. Concrete Strength=4000 psiat 28 days
2. Air Entrainment=5%1%
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STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]
3.
4.
5.
6.

Maximum Water-cement Ratio=.45

Maximum Slump=4 inches
Aggregates per ASTM C33, max. aggregate size=1 inch
No admixtures containing calcium chloride

EXPANSION JOINTS:

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[DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS OF RC

STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]

Expansion joints, main location.

WATERSTOP DETAIL
Base slab to wall interface is most critical and most difficult to construct of all
construction joints:
1. Raised starter wall
2. Bend top steel down at wall

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STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]
3. Drop top steel down below waterstop for entire slab Options 2 & 3 easier to construct
than option 1 but require relatively more material
CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS
Proper adherence to specifications
1. Water proofing process
2. Mix design
3. Placement
4. Curing
5. Deflection of structural members during pouring and vibrating of fresh concrete
6. Details, Details, Details
7. Integration into existing Facilities

Step 1, Water proofing process

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STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]

Step 2, Water proofing process

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[DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS OF RC

STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]
Placement of fresh concrete
MIX DESIGN
Adding 1 gallon of water to 1 yd3 of concrete will:
1. Increase slump about 1 inch
2. Increase air content about 1%
3. Increase shrinkage about 10% and increase cracking
4. Reduce compressive strength about 200 psi
5. Waste about 25 lbs of cement per cubic yard
6. Increase shrinkage about 10% and increase cracking
7. Decrease freeze-thaw durability about 20%
8. Decrease wear resistance to traffic
9. Increase dusting and other surface defects
10. Increase time needed to finish the concrete

Deflection of structural members during construction:

CURING
According to ACI 350-01 Environmental Structures Code Requirements:
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STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]
Minimum permeability of the concrete will be obtained by using water-cementitious
materials ratios as low as possible, consistent with satisfactory workability and
consolidation. Impermeability increases with the age of the concrete and is improved by
extended periods of moist curing.

Plastic membrane and water retaining agent were used for curing process
MINIMUM CONCRETE COVER OF STEEL REINFORCEMENT:
Checking of Minimum Concrete Cover according to ACI 350.1:
1. Concrete Base=3 inches (4 COE)
2. Concrete Walls=2 inches (3 COE)
3. Stilling Basin=6 (COE)

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STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]

Checking first carried out before Pouring of fresh concrete

LEAK TESTING
According to ACI 350-01 Environmental Structures Code Requirements:
1.1.3Each cell of multi-cell tanks shall be considered a single tank and tested
individually unless otherwise directed by the engineer.
1.2.3Unless specifically allowed by the engineer, the tank shall not be tested before all
of the structure is complete and the tanks concrete has attained its specified
compressive strength.
2.3.5The water shall be kept at the test level of unlined concrete tanks for at least three
days prior to the actual test.
2.3.6The exterior surfaces of the tank shall be inspected during the period of filling the
tank. If any flow of water is observed from the tank exterior surfaces, including
joints or cracks, the defect causing the leakage shall be repaired.
BACKFILLING
Backfill and compaction continues as dump trucks haul dirt in and a skid steer and
dozer spread the backfill into eight-inch lifts for compaction.

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STRUCTURES FOR WATERUTILITIES]

SUMMARY
1. Engineer helps the owner determine best structural system for the facility.
2. Proper engineer detailing is a major contributor to the long-term success of the
project.
3. Proper concrete mix design, placement, and curing practices is the single most
important factor toward the long-term durability of the structure.
4. Reinforced concrete is not a forever material. It requires on-going care and
maintenance. A well-defined asset management program will contribute to the
long-term operation of the structure.

REFRENCE:
1. Maine Water Utilities Association April 12, 2007. Michael E. Malenfant,
P.E. Metcalf & Eddy
2. ACI 350-01 Environmental Structures Code Requirements.
3. University of technology, engineering consulting office. Baghdad, Iraq.

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