ANSYS - Structural Analysis/FEA

Water Tank (Axisymmetric model)

Problem: Analyze a cylindrical water tank with inside diameter 50 meter as shown in the
figure below. The tank is made of concrete 30 cm thick (σy = 35 MPa). Assume live load on
the cover of the tank is 0.7 kN/m2 and the cover dead load is equal to the live load.

Stiffness of the soil below the tank is 25000 kN/m. The active and passive pressure
coefficients are 0.27 and 0.49, respectively. Soil density is 1842 kg/m3. Neglect the upward
pressure from the soil below the tank.

0.15 m
2
D.L. = L.L. = 700 N/m

2m

γ = 1842 kg/m3 3m
Ka = 0.27
Kp = 0.49

50 m
0.3 m

Tutorial 6 1/6
STEP 1: Start up
Preference> Structural
/UNITS, SI

STEP 2: Preprocessor : Define Element Type

Preprocessor > Element Type > Add
In the pop-up window click Add...> Solid > Quad 8 node 82 (PLANE 82). Click Apply.
In the pop-up window click Options.... Keyopt 3 = Axisymmetric

Preprocessor > Element Type > Add

In the pop-up window click Add...> Surface Effect > 2D structurl 153 (SURF153). Click
Apply.
In the pop-up window click Options.... Keyopt 6 = Negative pressure only.

Tutorial 6 2/6
STEP 3: Real Constants and Material Properties

Preprocessor > Real Constants > Add/Edit/Delete > Add...

Element type for Real Constants – Select Type 2 (SURF153)
In the next pop-up window, EFS = 25E6 N/m

Preprocessor > Material Models > Structural > Linear > Elastic> Isotropic
EX = 30E9 Pa and PRXY = 0.2.

To include material self weight in the calculation – enter the material density
Preprocessor > Material Models > Structural > Density
DENS = 2400 kg/m3

STEP 4: Modeling

Create keypoints
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > In Active CS
Enter the location of each keypoint
K, 1, 0, 0 K, 2, 25.3, 0 K, 3, 0, 0.3
K, 4, 25, 0.3 K, 5, 25.3, 3 K, 6, 25, 4.85

Tutorial 6 3/6
K, 7, 25.15, 4.85 K, 8, 25.15, 5 K, 9, 25.3, 5
Create area
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Areas > Arbitrary > Through KPS
Select keypoints (1-2-5-9-8-7-6-4-3-1) to create an area.

Mesh area
Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh Tool > Size controls: Lines > Set
Click Pick All.
Enter Element edge length = 0.15, click OK.
Mesh: Areas – click Mesh

Apply contact surface to the bottom of the tank

From the menu bar

Select > Entities...
In the pop-up window select Nodes, By location, Y coordinates
Enter 0 in the Min, Max box
Click OK

To see the selected nodes

Plot > Nodes

Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh Attributes > Default Attribs

Change TYPE to Type 2 (SURF153)

Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Elements > Surf/ Contact >
Surf to Surf. Click OK and Pick All in the pop-up window.

Now the contact elements are created.

Reselect all the nodes by

Tutorial 6 4/6
Select > Entities... > Nodes, By Num/Pick, OK, Pick All
To see the full structure of your axisymmetric model
PlotCtrls > Style > Symmetry Expansion > 2D-Axisymmetric > Full Expansion

Apply load
Calculate design load from the tank cover.
Total load = (1.5L.L. +1.25D.L.)*Area / perimeter = (1.5*700+1.25*700)*25/2
Distributed load on line 6 = Total load/0.15.

Case 1: The tank is empty. – There will be an active earth pressure acting outside the tank.
Maximum active earth pressure at the bottom = Ka*γsoil*soil depth = 0.27*1842*9.81*3
Apply triangular pressure to line 2 (be careful of the direction of the line)

Case 2: The tank is full. In this case, the loads are from water pressure, water weight and
passive earth pressure.
Maximum water pressure at the bottom = γwater*water depth = 1000*(5-0.3)
Apply triangular pressure to line 7.

Water weight (/m) = 1000*(5-0.3) - Apply uniform water weight to line 8

Tutorial 6 5/6
Maximum passive earth pressure at the bottom = Kp*γsoil*soil depth = 0.49*1842*9.81*3
Apply triangular pressure to line 2.

STEP 5: Solution

STEP 6: Postprocessor
Determine the maximum displacements.
Check the maximum compressive stress with the allowable stress
σ a = ϕ cσ y = 0.6 × 35 × 10 6 = 21× 10 6 Pa

Tutorial 6 6/6