International Conference on Advances in Civil and Mechanical Engineering Systems, 23-24 Dec.

2014
Government College of Engineering, Amravati in association with SVNIT, Surat, India
http://acmes2014.in

Effect of Staging Height on Seismic Performance of RC Elevated

Water Tank
Dr. Suchita Hirde1, Mr. Umesh L. Raygandhi-Shaha2
1

Professor in Applied Mechanics Dept., Govt. College of Engineering, Karad, 415124, Dist. Satara (M.S).
Student M.E. Structural Engineering, Dept. of Applied Mechanics, Govt. College of Engineering, Karad,
PIN 415124, Dist. Satara (M.S).
Email Id: hirde.suchita@gmail.com, umesh.r111@gmail.com

Abstract:
Water is as important commodity as food and air for the existence of life. The overhead tanks which
have been the inevitable part of water supply system are important public utility structures and industrial
structure by the help of which the required water head can easily be achieved and water can be made
available to all by the mere action of gravity. As known from very upsetting experiences, elevated water tanks
were heavily damages or collapsed during earthquake. This was might be due to the lack of knowledge
regarding the proper behavior of supporting system of the tank against dynamic effect and also due to improper
geometrical selection of staging patterns. Due to the fluid-structure interactions, the seismic behavior of
elevated tanks has the characteristics of complex phenomena. So there is necessity to understand the behavior of
elevated water tanks supported on different types of staging under earthquake forces. For elevated water tank,
shaft type staging and framed type of staging are normally used. In this study, an effort has been made to study
the effect of staging height on seismic behavior of elevated water tank supported on frame type staging with
consideration and modeling of impulsive and convective water masses inside the container for different zones
and soil types. This study will be useful to the civil engineers to understand the seismic behavior of elevated
water tanks supported on framed type staging situated in various earthquake zones.
Keywords: Elevated water tank, Frame type staging, Seismic analysis, Staging height

Conference Stream: Civil Engineering.

1. Introduction:
Water is human basic needs for daily life. Sufficient water distribution depends on design of a water
tank in certain area. An elevated water tank is a large water storage container constructed for the purpose of
holding water supply at certain height to pressurization the water distribution system. Thus Water tanks are very
important for public utility and for industrial structure. Elevated water tanks consist of huge water mass at the
top of a slender staging which are most critical consideration for the failure of the tank during earthquakes.
Elevated water tanks are critical and strategic structures and damage of these structures during earthquakes
effects on drinking water supply, cause to fail in preventing large fires and substantial economic loss. Since, the
elevated tanks are frequently used in seismic active regions, seismic behavior of these tanks has to be
investigated in detail. Due to the lack of Knowledge of supporting system some of the water tank were collapsed
or heavily damages. Hence in this study, an effort has been made to study the seismic behavior of elevated water
tank with consideration and modeling of impulsive and convective water masses inside the container for
different zones and soil types.

2. Modeling and analysis of elevated water tank for earthquake:

2.1 Model provision:
Two mass model for elevated tank was proposed by Housner (1963) [1] which is more appropriate and
is being commonly used in most of the international codes including Draft code for IS 1893 (Part-II). The
pressure generated within the fluid due to the dynamic motion of the tank can be separated into impulsive and
convective parts. When a tank containing liquid with a free surface is subjected to horizontal earthquake ground
motion, tank wall and liquid are subjected to horizontal acceleration. The liquid in the lower region of tank
behaves like a mass that is rigidly connected to tank wall. This mass is termed as impulsive liquid mass which
accelerates along with the wall and induces impulsive hydrodynamic pressure on tank wall and similarly on base
Liquid mass in the upper region of tank undergoes sloshing motion. This mass is termed as convective liquid
mass and it exerts convective hydrodynamic pressure on tank wall and base. For representing these two masses
and in order to include the effect of their hydrodynamic pressure in analysis, spring mass model is adopted for
ground-supported tanks and two-mass model for elevated tanks.

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Effect of staging height on seismic performance of RC elevated water tank

Figure 1-Two mass model for elevated tank

In spring mass model convective mass (mc) is attached to the tank wall by the spring having stiffness
(Kc), where for elevated tanks two-mass model is considered, which consists of two degrees of freedom system.
Spring mass model can also be applied on elevated tanks, but two-mass model idealization is closer to reality.
The two- mass model is shown in Fig 1(a). where, mi, mc, Kc, hi, hc, hs, etc. are the parameters of spring mass
model and charts as well as empirical formulae are given for finding their values. The parameters of this model
depend on geometry of the tank and its flexibility. For elevated tanks, if the shape is other than circular or
rectangular, then the values of spring mass parameters can be obtained by considering an equivalent circular
tank having same capacity with diameter equal to that of diameter at top level of liquid in original tank. The
two-mass model was first proposed by G. M. Housner (1963) and is being commonly used in most of the
international codes. The response of the two degree of freedom system can be obtained by elementary structural
dynamics. However, for most of elevated tanks it is observed that both the time periods are well separated.
Hence, the two mass idealizations can be treated as two uncoupled single degree of freedom system as shown in
Fig.1 (b). The stiffness (Ks) is lateral stiffness of staging. The mass (ms) is the structural mass and shall
comprise of mass of tank container and one-third mass of staging as staging will acts like a lateral spring. Mass
of container comprises of roof slab, container wall, gallery if any, floor slab, floor beams, ring beam, circular
girder, and domes if provided.
2.2 Damping
Damping in the convective mode for all types of liquids and for all types of tanks shall be taken as
0.5% of the critical. Damping in the impulsive mode shall be taken as 2% of the critical for steel tanks and 5%
of the critical for concrete or masonry tanks [2].
2.3 Lateral Stiffness K of Frame Staging [3]
Most tank stagings have identical bracing girders and equal panel heights. Moreover, the top end of
column in top most panel and bottom end of column in bottommost panel are fixed against rotation. For the
most commonly used stagings, having all the columns along the periphery of a circle, panel stiffness is obtained
as below:

Kpanel=

12

2
3
+

Kpanel=

12
3

for intermediate panels, and

for top and bottom panels.

Where,
Ec & Eb- Modulus of elasticity for column and beam material.
Ic & Ib - Moment of inertia for column and beam material.
Nc- Number of Columns
The stiffness of individual columns in a panel is summed to obtain panel stiffness. The overall stiffness of
the staging can then be determined by treating the panels as springs in series along the height.
2.4 Time Period [2]
Time period of impulsive mode,
Ti = 2 mi ms
Ks
Time period of convective mode,
Tc = C c D
g

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Effect of staging height on seismic performance of RC elevated water tank

2.5 Design Horizontal Seismic Coefficient
Design horizontal seismic coefficient, Ah shall be obtained by the following expression, subject to
Clauses 4.5.1 to 4.5.4 [2]

Ah =

Where,
Z = Zone factor given in Table 2 of IS 1893 (Part 1): 2002,
I = Importance factor given in Table 1 of [2]
R = Response reduction factor given in Table 2 of [2]
Sa/g = Average response acceleration coefficient as given by Figure 2 and Table 3 of IS 1893(Part 1): 2002 [7]

3. Study parameters:
In this paper, the study is carried out on reinforced cement concrete circular elevated water tanks
supported on frame type staging, which are commonly used in practice. Grade of concrete and steel used are
M25 and Fe415. In the analysis Elevated water tanks having 2, 50, 000 liter capacity with staging height of 16m,
20m & 24m considering 4 m height of each panel have been considered. For this staging height three soil
conditions are considered i.e. soft, medium and hard soil condition and for each soil condition, two zones i.e.
Zone III and Zone IV are considered. Other relevant data is given below.
Table 1: Component sizes (mm)
Top dome
120 mm thick
Top ring beam
250mm x 300mm
Cylindrical wall
200mm thick
Bottom ring beam 500mm x 300mm
Circular ring beam 500mm x 600mm
Bottom dome
200 mm thick
Conical dome
250 mm thick
Braces
300mm x 600mm
Column
650mm dia.
2,50,000
liters
Capacity

Tank full
condition

Tank
empty
condition

Frame
type
staging

Hard Soil

Zone III

16m

20m

Medium
Soil

Soft Soil

24m

Zone IV

Figure 2: Models for earthquake analysis.

Figure 3: Details of tank geometry.

4. Results and discussion:

In this paper an attempt is made to study the seismic performance of the elevated water tanks. For all
the above mentioned 36 water tanks, analysis has been carried out by using IS: 1893-2002(Part II). Earthquake
analysis is carried out for different soil conditions and different earthquake zones. Tank full condition and empty
condition are considered for earthquake analysis. The main objective of this paper was to study the effect of
height of supporting system on seismic parameters of reinforced cement concrete 2,50,000 liter capacity
elevated water tank supported on frame type staging in seismic zones III and IV for soft, medium and hard soil
conditions.
4.1 Effect of staging height:
Natural time period increases as the height of supporting system increases. Natural time period in
impulsive mode of liquid is directly proportional to the height of supporting system but in convective mode
of liquid it remains constant as shown in Fig. 4. Lateral stiffness of staging decreases with increase in height

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Effect of staging height on seismic performance of RC elevated water tank

3.14

4
3
2
1
0

3.14
1.09

0.97

0.84

imp.

Conv.

imp.

16m

3.14

Conv.

imp.

20m

Conv.

Stiffness kN/m

Natural time period

of supporting system as shown in Fig. 5. Base shear rapidly decreases as the height of supporting system
increases for all soil conditions for tank full condition as shown in Fig. 14 to 16. Base shear increases as the
height of supporting system increases when water tank is situated in soft soil for tank empty condition but
for other soil condition base shear decreases as shown in Fig.17 to 19. Base moment increases as height of
supporting system increases for tank full condition and also for tank empty condition as shown in Fig. 20 to
25.
4.2 Effect of earthquake zone:
The results obtained from the analysis are analyzed and shown in graphical form shown in Fig 14 to 25.
Base shear calculated in Zone III is less than Zone IV. Base moment for Zone III is less than zone IV.
4.3 Effect of soil type:
Base shear in hard soil is less than base shear in medium soil and soft soil for tank full condition as
shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. But for tank empty condition base shear for elevated water tank situated in
medium soil and soft soil with 16m staging height is same for both seismic zone III and IV as shown in
Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. Base moment in hard soil is less than base moment in medium and soft soil.
20000

18929.06
14508.43

10000
5000
0

24m

16m

20m

Staging height (m)

Medium Soil
20m

24m

Figure 5: Lateral Stiffness of the Staging.

Base Shear kN

Base Shear kN

Hard Soil

16m

500
400
300
200
100
0

Medium Soil
24m

24m

Soft Soil

Soft Soil

Staging height (m)

Figure 10: Effect of soil on base moment (kN-m)

for tank full condition for seismic zone III.

Figure 9: Effect of soil on base shear (kN) for tank

empty condition for seismic zone IV.
Base Moment kN-m

Base moment kN-m

Medium Soil
24m

Medium Soil
20m

Staging height (m)

Hard Soil

20m

Soft Soil

Hard Soil

16m

Soft Soil

Figure 8: Effect of soil on base shear (kN) for tank

empty condition for seismic zone III.

16m

24m

400
300
200
100
0

Staging height (m)

8000
6000
4000
2000
0

20m

Figure 7: Effect of soil on base shear (kN) for tank

full condition for seismic zone IV.
Base Shear kN

Base Shear kN

Hard Soil

20m

Medium Soil

Staging height (m)

Figure 6: Effect of soil on base shear (kN) for tank

full condition for seismic zone III.

16m

Hard Soil

16m

Soft Soil

Staging height (m)

300
250
200
150
100
50
0

24m

Staging height (m)

Figure 4: Natural time period.

400
300
200
100
0

11761.65

15000

12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0

Hard Soil
Medium Soil
16m

20m

24m

Soft Soil

Staging height (m)

Figure 11: Effect of soil on base moment (kN-m)

for tank full condition for seismic zone IV.

358

8000
6000
4000
2000
0

Hard Soil
Medium Soil
16m

20m

24m

Soft Soil

Base Moment(kN-m)

Base Moment(kN-m)

Effect of staging height on seismic performance of RC elevated water tank

12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0

Zone III
Zone IV

Zone III
Zone IV

300
200
100

Zone IV

16m

20m

24m

Zone IV

Zone IV

Figure 19: Effect of zone on base shear (kN) for

tank empty condition for soft soil.
Base Moment(kN-m)

Base Moment(kN-m)

Zone III
24m

Zone III

Staging height (m)

Figure 18: Effect of zone on base shear (kN) for

tank empty condition for medium soil.

20m

24m

400
300
200
100
0

Staging height (m)

16m

20m

Figure 17: Effect of zone on base shear (kN) for

tank empty condition for hard soil.
Base Shear(kN)

Base Shear(kN)

Zone III

8000
6000
4000
2000
0

Zone IV
16m

Staging height (m)

Figure 16: Effect of zone on base shear (kN) for

tank full condition for medium soil.

24m

Zone III

Staging height (m)

20m

24m

Figure 15: Effect of zone on base shear (kN) for

tank full condition for soft Soil.

24m

400
300
200
100
0

Zone IV
20m

Staging height (m)

Base Shear(kN)

Base Shear(kN)

500
400
300
200
100
0

Zone III
16m

24m

Figure 14: Effect of zone on base shear (kN) for

tank full condition for hard Soil.

16m

Soft Soil

500
400
300
200
100
0

Staging height (m)

20m

24m

Figure 13: Effect of soil on base moment (kN-m)

for tank empty condition for seismic zone IV.
Base Shear(kN)

Base Shear(kN)

300
250
200
150
100
50
0

16m

20m

Staging height (m)

Figure 12: Effect of soil on base moment (kN-m)

for tank empty condition for seismic zone III.

20m

Medium Soil
16m

Staging height (m)

16m

Hard Soil

10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0

Zone III
16m

20m

24m

Zone IV

Staging height (m)

Staging height (m)

Figure 20: Effect of zone on base moment (kN-m)

for tank full condition for hard Soil.

Figure 21: Effect of zone on base moment (kN-m)

for tank full condition for medium soil.

359

12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0

Base Moment(kN-m)

Base Moment(kN-m)

Effect of staging height on seismic performance of RC elevated water tank

Zone III
Zone IV
16m

20m

24m

7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0

Base Moment(kN-m)

Base Moment(kN-m)

24m

Figure 23: Effect of zone on base moment (kN-m)

for tank empty condition for hard soil.

Zone III
Zone IV
20m

20m

Staging height (m)

Figure 22: Effect of zone on base moment (kN-m)

for tank full condition for soft Soil.

16m

Zone IV
16m

Staging height (m)

10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0

Zone III

24m

12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0

Zone III
Zone IV
16m

20m

24m

Staging height (m)

Staging height (m)

Figure 24: Effect of zone on base moment (kN-m)

for tank empty condition for medium soil.

Figure 25: Effect of zone on base moment (kN-m)

for tank empty condition for soft soil

5. Conclusion:

From the analysis and the results, it is concluded that,

Lateral stiffness of staging is inversely proportional to height of supporting system.
Natural time period in impulsive mode of liquid is directly proportional to height of supporting system.
As the height of supporting system increases staging stiffness decreases and time period is inversely
proportional to the stiffness.
Natural time period in convective mode of liquid remain constant even if height of supporting system
increases because it depends upon value of coefficient of convective mode (Cc) which depends on h/D
ratio which is constant for all the tanks.
Total base shear calculated is inversely proportional to the height of supporting system for tank full
condition.
Total Base shear for tank in empty condition situated in all soil conditions except for soft soil Zone III
and Zone IV is inversely proportional to the height of supporting system. But for elevated water tank
situated in Soft soil zone III and zone IV is directly proportional to height of supporting system this
change is due to variation of Acceleration coefficient (Sa/g) which depends on soil condition and
natural time period.
Base moment for elevated water tank in all soil conditions is directly proportional to height of
supporting system for tank full condition and also for tank empty condition. Base moment is maximum
for elevated water tank situated in zone IV on soft soil.

References
George W. Housner The dynamic behavior of water tanks Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 1963. Vol.53, No.
2, PP. 381-387.
[2] IITK-GSDMA Guidelines for Seismic Design of Liquid Storage Tanks Provisions with commentary and explanatory examples.
[3] Sudhir K. Jain, Sajjad U. Sameer, Seismic design of frame staging for elevated water tanksNinth symposium on earthquake
engineering(9SEE-90),Roorkee,December 14-16,1990,Vol. ,PP. 4.114-4.120
[4] David B. Swanson, Bryce Falkin, Kylie K. Yamatsuka, Daniel J. Campbell Use of friction dampers on elevated water tanks
13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Vancouver, B.C., August 1-6, 2004,Paper No. 1011
[5] Dr. Suchita Hirde, Ms. AsmitaBajare, Dr. ManojHedaoo, Seismic Performance of Elevated Water Tanks International Journal
of Advanced Engineering Research and Studies, IJAERS/Vol. I/ Issue I/October-December 2011, PP. 78-87.
[6] Indian Standard Criteria For Design Of RCC St aging For Overhead Water Tanks, IS: 11682 -1985, Indian
Standards Institution, New Delhi, January 1987. .
[7] Indian Standards Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design Of Structures, IS: 1893: 2002, Bureau Of Indian
Standards, New Delhi.
[8] Indian Standard Code Of Practice for Plain & Reinforced Concrete IS: 456:2000, Bureau of Indian Standards, New
De1hi, July 2000.
[1]

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