SEISMIC PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF

EXISTING ELEVATED WATER STORAGE TANKS

IN SRI LANKA

Supervised By
Dr. Samith Buddika

Sitheeq Umar
University of Peradeniya
 Rectangular Circular Intze

Spherical bottom Domed bottom Conical bottom

 ABSTRACT

 Elevated Water Tanks are Lifeline structures that must be designed to withstand all the
forces expected to act in its lifetime – Gravity, Lateral & Seismic
 Common modes of failure are wall buckling, sloshing damage to roof, inlet/outlet pipe
breaks.
 Elevated water tanks should be competent of keeping the expected performance during
and after earthquake.
 Difficulty in prediction of dynamic loads due to uncertainty of earthquake and nature of
the structures.
 Expected seismic values will be analysed using finite modelling techniques, response
spectrum curves, displacement responses, variation of forces and moments along the
height are plotted.
ISSUE OF CONCERN

 Rapid growth of population demands a structure of large scale.

 Attracts very high lateral loads due to huge mass concentrated at a very high
elevation.
 Damage of the structure puts the society in great trouble and crates
environment/Health pollution.
 Such structures have failed in many places during past earthquakes.
 Even ground supported cylindrical liquid storage structures have failed during past
earthquakes – caused fire, disruption in production and environmental pollution.
 OBJECTIVES

 To determine the different modes of frequencies and corresponding time periods with Sri
Lanka seismic force.
 To develop a simplified design procedures for the water tower.
 To develop a guideline to design the structures displacement based method.
 Study the influence of various parameters
1. Seismic intensity
2. soil conditions
3. staging height
4. shear and ductility characteristics

 Finite element modelling and seismic analysis of Elevated water tanks using ANSYS
FAILURES AND REASONS
BHACHAU, (JANUARY 26TH, 2001, BHUJ, INDIA, M=7.7) , 200 CUM

 Developed the tension-flexural cracks upto the

one-third height of the staging.

 Severe cracking at the junctions of the first two lift.

7
GUJARAT (MORBI), INDIA, M7.7 EARTHQUAKE OF JANUARY 26, 2001,
500 CUM

 Tension-flexural cracks
 Cracks in staging of tank repaired by
injecting the epoxy.
 80 km away from epicentre, was empty at
the time of the earthquake

8
GUJARAT (MORBI), INDIA, M7.7 EARTHQUAKE OF JANUARY 26,
2001, 265 CUM

• Collapsed water tank in

Chobari (265 m3) village
about 20 km from epicenter.
The tank was approximately
half full during the earthquake
event
 THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE (SOUTH AMERICA) IN MAY 22, 1960 WITH A
MAGNITUDE M= 8.5, 50 CUM

 Beam Shear Failure

 high shear force in the end of beams, 45 degree angle shear cracks
 cracks and subsequent fracture shear beams and plastic joint was created.
CHILE (SOUTH AMERICA) IN 1960 WITH A MAGNITUDE M=8.5,
700 CUM

 This type of failure in the

bending-shear cracks
beams occurs in the middle
section of shear failure.
GUJARAT (MORBI), INDIA, M=7.7 EARTHQUAKE OF JANUARY 26,
2001, 20 CUM

 Axial Failure In Columns

 Deep cracks in the columns were
observed.
 The cracks occurred along of
longitudinal reinforced of column.

 Also, in the column connection to the container holder system were

developed cracks vertically that low the performance of columns
 THE EARTHQUAKE IN IRAN, DEC 26, 2003, M=6.3, 350 CUM

 As a matter of fact the

only observed defect in
this structure was
improper reinforcement
detailing.

 Investigations showed that the used steel rebar in the structure were round
ones to which the cracks to some extent can be related.
 In addition, one will be surprised, which the columns are not reinforced with
ties (at least in the joints).
THE EARTHQUAKE IN ALGERIA, 2003, M=7.2, 250 CUM
This type of failure in the main action is
due to twist moment bending, shear and
axial forces in frame members arises and
causes of damage and failure types
mentioned above are in the frame
members.

Failure was due to poor detailing of the

reinforcement at the beam-column
connections.
WATER TOWERS IN SRI LANKA
Jamburaliya Water Tank – Galle
1500 cum
SAMMANTHURAI WATER TANK
1500CUM
SAMMANTHURAI WATER TANK
1250 CUM
RATNAPURA WATER TANK
2000 CUM
POINT PEDRO WATER TANK – JAFFNA
1500 CUM
SEISMIC THREATS IN SRI LANKA

• Most significant earthquake affected in Sri Lanka in 1615

Mannar Rift with M=6.5.
• Lack of recorded data available in Sri Lanka, after Tsunami
GSMB is monitoring the Seismicity.
• The studies show NW ( Mannar Rift) to SW (Comorin
Ridge) is most vulnerable to seismic. There is also
reflection to Central Highlands.
• From 300 records of earthquakes around Sri Lanka, it was
Comorin Ridge found that Mannar rift zone and Comorin ridge is the
critical zone of influence which is capable of generating
seismic event of magnitude 6.9 at 475 years return period
at a depth of 10 – 15 km below the sea level.
CONTD..

 The study demonstrated that the seismicity around Sri Lanka can no longer be
ignored and engineering design should include seismic hazard.
Reference - Seismic Status and Macro Seismic Hazard Zonation of Sri Lanka Eng. (Prof). H N Seneviratne
 SPRING MASS MODEL FOR ELEVATED TANK

Two mass model for elevated tank was proposed by Housner (1963) and is being
commonly used in most of the international codes
Roof Slab

Mc
Wall Mc
Container
Mi Kc

Floor Slab
Mi Mi

Staging

Ks Ks Mc

+
Kc
Top of Foundation

Elevated Water Tank Spring Mass Model Two mass idealization of Equivalent uncoupled
elevated tank system
REFERENCE

 Seismic Performance of RC Elevated Water Tanks with Frame Staging and Exhibition Damage Pattern Soheil
Soroushnia1a, Sh. Tavousi Tafreshi, F. Omidinasab, N. Beheshtian4, Sajad Soroushnia
 Seismic Performance of Circular Elevated Water Tank Rupachandra J. Aware1, Dr.Vageesha S. Mathada2
2Guide, Shri Vitthal Education & Research Institute College of Engineering, Pandharpur
 Seismic Analysis of Elevated Water Storage Tanks Subjected to Six Correlated Ground Motion
Components L. Kalani Sarokolayi, B. Navayi Neya, J. Vaseghi Amiri and H. R.Tavakoli Department of Civil Engineering,
Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran
 SEISMIC BEHAVIOUR OF RC ELEVATED WATER TANK UNDER DIFFERENT STAGING PATTERN AND
EARTHQUAKE CHARACTERISTICS Ayazhussain M. Jabar1, H. S. Patel
 Reference - Seismic Status and Macro Seismic Hazard Zonation of Sri Lanka Eng. (Prof). H N Seneviratne
THANK YOU