The analysis of the elements of the tanks is made considerably easier with the aid of the PCA tables

for the walls given in

Chapter 9 and the BS 81 10 tables for the floor slabs. The effects of tying the floors and walls together and the method of
supporting the tank can, however, have a significant effect upon the resulting moments and forces within the structure.
The intensity and distribution of the applied loads, due to the water and self weight, can be easily calculated. The
distribution of the reaction forces provided by the supporting elements is, however, not so readily ascertainable.
In BS 8007 clause 2.4 is written:
The liquid pressure on plane walls may be resisted by a combination of horizontal and vertical bending moments. An
assessment should be made of the proportions of the pressure to be resisted by bending moments in the vertical and
horizontal planes. Allowance should also be made for the effects of direct tension in walls induced by flexural action in
adjacent walls. Reinforcement should be provided to resist horizontal bending moments in all corners where walls are
rigidly joined.
Various authors and researchers have considered this problem and to summarise the comments of one author (4-1):
'Application of a rigorous method to the design of continuous slabs often leads to illusory accuracy when one takes into
account the more or less indeterminable factors affecting the magnitude of the forces within the slabs.'
Such factors include for examples:
(a)
(b)
(c)

the flexibility of the floor slab;

the nature of the supporting subsoil;
the restraining effect of the walls upon the slab.

Following extensive research work one writer recommended that because of the difference between the theoretical and actual
results of his experiments a safe design should be adopted by analysing the structure for
a range of conditions.
On the basis of the research work of those engaged in this field it would seem prudent to consider a range of possible
conditions the results of which, whilst marginally increasing the amount of reinforcement, will ensure that the tank will be
structurally satisfactory.
The structural analysis of the wall panels is complex; however, certain authors (4-1 to 4-3) and associations (4-4) have, as
mentioned earlier, prepared tables to assist the designer to determine the various forces generated by the water pressure
within the container with little difficulty. Extracts are used and are printed in Chapter 9 by kind permission of the PCA.
The design of a base slab supported by the earth has been carried out by modern 'structural/soil interaction' techniques
developed as shown in Refs 4-5 and 4-6. Also more simple methods have been used and the results compared.
A flow chart of the design process follows in Fig. 4. 1.