May, 1958

165

Analysis of Cylindrical Tanks with Flat Bases

by Moment Distribution Methods
by AminGhali,
1. SyIlopSis

momentdistributionmethod
is used to find
the moments and the ringtension in the walls
and the bases of the following two types of cylindrical
tank :
(a)Cylindrical tankona
rigidflatfoundation.
(b) Cylindrical tank with flat base supported on
a
cylindrical shaft of smaller diameter.
For the first type a trial and error method is used
to determine the width of the ring-shaped part of the
base which will lift up from the foundationsurface.
In the second type the variation of the thickness in
the overhanging part of the base is taken into account.
Graphs are presented in the appendix to facilitate the
solution.
The design of each type is illustrated by a numerical
example.
HE

M.Sc., Ph.D.
In order to apply the method we need to compute
the fixed-end moments, the stiffness and the carry-over
factors for each element.
Thismethod of momentdistribution was used by
Mtirkus,Gy.l* in Hungary and by Lavery,
J. H.2 in
Australia for the analysis of certain types of cylindrical
tanks. Some of the data given by MBrkus will be used
in this study.

3. Stiffness, Carry-overFactorsandFixed-end
Moments in Cylindrical Walls
(a) Stiffness
The moment which causes unit rotation at a hinged
end of a cylindrical wall varies accordingto thedifferent
conditions of support at the far end. In the following
the stiffness factors are given for the threecases shown
in Fig. 1. It isconvenient to express the stiffness S

Fig. 1
2. Introduction
Theusualprocedure
of the momentdistribution
method of Hardy Cross could be used to take account
of the continuity of the walls of cylindrical tanks with
their roofs or bases. A vertical element of the wall is
considered together with a radial element
of the roof
or the base. Themethodinvolves the calculation of
moments at the ends of the elements under artificial
conditions of restraint,then
a distribution of unbalancedmomentsbyarithmeticalproportion
when
the artificial restraintsare removed.The
fixed-end
moments per unit length developed at the edge of the
cylindrical wall due to the liquid pressure, and those
developed at the edge of the circular plate are determined, the unbalanced moment is distributed between
the connecting elements in proportionto their stiffness.
The term stiffness here means the moment needed
at the end of the cylindrical wall or the plate produce
to
unit rotation of this end. Also, if a moment is distributed to one end of the cylinder (or the plate) while
the other end isheld fixed, a fraction of the distributed
moment is carried overto the fixed end of the cylinder
(or the plate).

The index numbers refer to the items in the list of references

at the end of the article

terms
in

of

12 (1 - p )

where E the
is

modulus of

elasticity and p Poissons ratio. In other words the

moment which causesaunitrotation
at an edge of
stiffness S is equal to S.

E
12 (1 - p )

For the three cases of Fig. 1 we have :

case a (Fig. la)

S = 2pt3

(sinh PHcos2coshPHPH+-sincosh2 PHPHcos PH

case b (Fig. 1b)

S = 2pt3

sin (3H cos PH -sinh pH cosh @H

sin2 PH -sinh2 PH

case c (Fig. IC)

S = 2pt3

sin2 PH
sinh2 pH
sinh PH cosh PH -sin @Hcos PH

The Stmctural Engineer

166

t is the wall thickness and H its height.

isadimensionlessfactor.

PH

The term QH

(4)

where R is the wall radius.

For cylindrical walls having big values of PH ( QH> x ) ,
the terms between brackets in equations ( l ) , ( 2and
) (3)
tend to unity.The
stiffness a t one end will be the
samewhatevertheconditions
at the other end, and
will be equal to
S = 2pt3
. . . . (5)
Most elevated tanks as well as some grounded tanks
have dimensions which give values of pH> x , and the
stiffness of the walls can be easilycalculatedby
equation (5).
(b) Carry-overFactor
If amoment is applied at the edge of a cylinder
while the other edge is fixed (Fig. lb), a fraction of this
moment will be carried-over tothe fixed edge. The
ratio between theappliedmomentandthe
moment
developed atthefar
fixed edge is the " carry-over
factor."
This
factor
depends
upon the value PH,
it may be a fractionwithpositive
or negative sign.
In Table 1 below the carry-over factors are given for
values of PH between 1 and 6.
Table1.-Carry-overFactors

equation in the x , y , z system of co-ordinates

for Cylindrical Walls

where W is the deflection ; q the intensity of loading ;

D is the flexural rigidity
Ed3
D =
. . . (8)
12 ( l -$)
in which d is the plate thickness.
This differential equation (7) can be expressed in a
polar system of co-ordinates in which the centre of the
plate coincides with the origin of the system. In the
case of circularsymmetrical loading the differential
equation will be,

d4w
2 d3w
l d2w
1 dw
~ + ~ ~ - ~ d , z + $ d , = D ''

(9)

w in this equation indicates the deflection of all points

which lie on a circle of radius r. The solution of the
differential equation (9) in its general form is

A I , A z , A3 and A4 are the integration constants

are to be determined from the edge conditions
plate.
Theprincipalmoments
will be actingin a
direction M r , and in a tangential direction Mt.
values per unit length are :

a n d M t = - D ( - - + 1 dw
Y dr

which
of the
radial
Their

p-)d2w

For long cylinders ( p H > x ) , the carry-over factor

is very small, which means that a moment applied at
one edge dies before it reaches the other end.

When a circularplateisbuiltcontinuouswitha
cylindrical wall or withanother
ring-shaped slab,
the radial moments in the wall and the slab per unit
length of their common edge must be equal. Also,

(c) Fixed-endMoments
The fixing moment at the bottom of acylindrical
wall having its top edge free, and filled withliquid
of specific gravity y, could be expressedby therelation :

the rotation in the radial direction

There exist tables and curves 1 , 3 , 4, 5 and 6 which

give the moment a s well a s t h e ring tension in cylindrical walls fixed at their bases and subjected to
triangular loading,with the top edge undervarious
conditions.

4. Stiffness, Carry-overFactorsandFixed-end
Moments in Circular Plates
The bendingof a circular plate loaded symmetrically
with
respect
toits
centrehas
been exhaustively
treated by many authors
(see for example references
2, 7, 8 and 9.
With the usualassumptionscmsidered
in the elastic theory of plates, it could be shown that
the deflection of the plateis governedby thedifferential

**

4-

The term 1.3068 = 43(1 -pa), in which

1
l
The term
3.4156 - 2 2 / 3 ( 1 -p:)
to 4.

--

is taken equal to

in which p. is taken equal

(g)

of the edge

of the plate must be equal to the rotation at the edge

of the cylinder.
Similar to what was considered when dealing with
cylindrical walls, the stiffness at the edge of a circular
plate is equal to the radial
moment applied at this
edge to let it rotate a rotation cquals unity.
If a radial moment ( M r ) l is applied a t edge 1 of a
ring shaped slab of radii a and b (Fig. 2 ) , while the

Fig. 2
other edge 2 being fixed, a fraction of this moment
(Mr2) will becarriedover
tothe fixed edge.
The

May, 1958

167

ratio between the appliedradial

moment per unit
lengthandthe
corresponding value of the moment
developed at the far edge is the carry-over factor f1-2.
The carry-over factor depends upon the ratio between
the two radii, and may be a value less or more than
unity.
The radial moments at a fixed edge due to a loading
on the slab are called the fixed-end moments. Tables
andgraphsare
available, 2 and 8, which give the
fixed-end moments, stiffness and carry-overfactors
in circular and ring-shaped slabs for various loadings
and edge conditions. These were obtained from the
basic equations (lo), (1 1) by choosing the integration
constants which suit the edge conditions. The values
given in table 2 below were calculated by Mhrkus (S),
they are given here since they will be used later in
this discussion.
Table 2.-Stiffness,
Outer radius
Inner radius
- _a

1 .o
1.1
l .2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1 .8
1.9
2.0

Carry-over FactorsandFixed-endMoments
Stiffness at edge 1
E
l d3

T
0
0.0254
0.0518
0.0789
0.1065
0.1347
0.1632
0.1922
0.2214
0.2510
0.2808

and the base may cause a ring-shaped part of the base

near its edge to bend as shown in Fig. 3, whereas the
inside circular part of the base may remain flat.
This is a nonlinear problem as regarding the bending
of the circularplate, the conditions at the edges of
the deformed part of the base are changing with the
deflection, and the deformation of the plate will not
be proportional to the load applied on it.
The stiffness of the deflected ring-shaped part of
the base depends upon
the dimension b (Fig. 3), and
this depends upon the unknown moments which are
developed at the edge of the base. A trial and error
method will be used here ; first the radius b willbe
assumed and then corrected to satisfy the conditions
of the problem. These conditions
are
that at a
circle of radius b, the deflection, the moment and the
slope of the deflected surface are zero. The deflected
in Ring-shapedSlabs of constant thickness (Fig. 2)

Carry-over
factor
fi-2

0.5000
0.5374
0.5676
0.5996
0.6308
0.6604
0.6894
0.7174
0.7446
0.771 1
0.7969

Fixed-end moments due

t o a distributed load Q

--a
b
1.0
1.1
l .2
1.3
l .4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
2.0

MI
i n terms of
q b2

0
-0.0007
-0.0033
-0.0072
-0.0126
-0.0199
-0.0277
-0.0373
-0.0484
-0.0608
-0.0746

b
a

M2
in terms of
4 a2

1 .o
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1

0
-0.0008
4.0035
-0.0081
-0.0150
-0.0247
-0.0380
-0.0570
-0.0862
-0.1433

5. Sign Convention for Moments

Any system of signs could be followed, similar
to those used in theusual moment distribution analysis
of beamsor frames. Inthis discussion, because of
symmetry, theanalysis is carriedout on one half of the
structure, namely the left half. An external moment
applied at the end of an element is positive when it
tends torotatethisendinthe
clockwise direction.

6. Variation of the Momentsawayfromthe

Edges
The moment distribution serves to calculate the
continuitymoments
at the intersection of circular
slabswith cylindrical walls or between elements of
ring-shaped slabs
supported
along annular rings.
Starting from these moments the variation of stresses
throughoutthe
cylinder or the slabcanbe
easily
calculated. Data is available, 1 and 4, which give the
moments andring
tension a t different heightsin
cylindrical walls subjected to triangular loading as
well as for radial moments applied at the edge. Also,
there exist tables and curves, 2 and S, for the radial
andthetangential
moments at different radii of a
ring-shaped slabdue
t o adistributed
load on the
slab or due to radial moments applied at the edges.
The final ring tension and moments in the wall or the
slab can be obtained by superposition.
7. CylindricalTank on RigidFlatFoundation
When a cylindrical tank is
constructed
on an
absolutely rigid foundation-such
as solid rockor if the tank isconstructed on a thick stiff plain
concrete footing, and the wall is built monolithic with
the base, thecontinuity moment between the wall

+&4

-4

Fig.3.-Cylindricaltank

on a rigidfoundation

part of the base can be considered as if totally fixed

at the circle of radius b, but loaded in a manner that
the radial moment at the fixation is zero. This may
be seen by summing the two moment diagrams for
the two loadings shown in Figs. 4a and b. A right
assumption of the distance b should satisfy the condition that the moment at radius b is zero. This can
be quickly checked and the assumption modified until
the right value of b is reached. Not more than three
trialsshould be necessary. The procedure of calculationisfullyexplainedduringthe
solution of the
following numerical example.

ExampLe 1 :
(a) GivenData
Tank diameter 2R = 40' ; tank height. H..= 16' ;
floor thickness d = 10"; wall thickness t = 10";

The StructwalEngineer

168

(d) Carry-overFactor
This factor will be used to find the radial moment
carried over tothe inner edge of thering slab (at
radius b) when a moment is applied at the outer edge
a
2 for - = 1.25
b

fromTable

= 0.584

f1-2

(e) Fixed-endMoments
wall : By substituting in equation (6) we get
M2-l

62.5 x 20 x 0.83 x 16
3.4156
(I-&)
=

Fig. 4.-Radial bending moment diagram on a circular

ring slab.
weight of liquid = 62.5 lb./ft.3 ; weight of concrete
1
= 150 lb./ft.3 ; Poissons ratio p =6
The tank is assumed to be placed on an absolutely
rigid flat foundation.
(b) Loads
Thebentpart
of the base plate will be loaded
downwards by the weight of the liquid plus its own
weight
10
Q
62.5 X 16
150 X 12 = 1125 lb./ft.

(c) StiffnessFactors
1.3068H
1.3068
wall : @ H =
-

4Ft

.*.sz-1 = 2Pt3 = 2

1/20 x 0.83
X

5 25
L
.
.
16.4

base : Byinterpolation from Table 2 we get

b
a
- = 1.25 and - = 0.8
a
b
M 2 - 3 = - 1125 X 162 X 0.0053 = - 1525 lb.ft./ft.
M3-2 =
1125 X 202 X 0.0035 =
1575 lb.ft./ft.

+
shown in Fig. 6a.
b = + 733 lb.ft./ft.,

Thedistributionprocedureis
The moment obtained
at radius
which should be zero if the assumption of the radius b
was correct.
Forthe second trial we take b = 18. A similar
calculation will give the moments shown in Fig. 6b,
with the moment at radius b = - 1110 lb.ft./ft. Hence
theright value of b, which gives zero moment at
radius b, must lie between 16 and 18.
A reasonablevalue
to be assumed for thenext
trialmaybetakenby
makinglinearinterpolation
between the two previous trials, this gives ;
733
= 16.8.
b = 16
(18-16)
733
1110

x 16.4
=

5.25 >

0.833 = 0.368

base : In order to estimatethestiffness of the ring

(part 2 -3, Fig. 5), the dimension b must be assumed.

3930 Ib.ft./ft.

Themomentdistributionforthethirdtrial
with
b = 16.8 is done in Fig. 6c, the corresponding value
of theradial moment at b = 10 lb.ft./ft., which is
very small, and no more trials need to be considered.
Thevariation
of ring tension and momentsare
obtained by thehelp of graphs from references l and 8,

Fig. 5

As a first trial we take b = 0.8a = 16.

20
--- 1.25
b
16 a

By interpolation from Table 2 we get

the values aretabulated below. Diagramsfor

the
ring tension and the bending moments are shown in

Fig. 7.
It may be seen from this example that the base is
subjected to radial moments only near its outer edge,
and they diminish very quickly away from the edge.
Hence it is possible to construct the middle part of
the base with a reduced thickness. We can also see

May, 1958

169

distance from top edge

'

:.

due t o liquid pressure on a cylindrical

wall hinged at the bottom

300

due to restraining
the bottom

70

a
,,,

H
r"
W

.a

moment-2910

lb. at

- 230

total (lb./ft.)

0.2H

+ 170
+ 4470

50

due to restraining moment-2910

the bottom

30

20

lb. a t

that the tangentialmomentsinthe

and need not be considered.

base aresmall

8. Cylindrical Tank with Flat Base Supported on

Cylindrical Shaft of SmallerDiameter
Water towers of medium capacities are often made
of the type shown inFig. 8. Theflatbase
may be

fi

-%F

fb) second + , h / b

"h

(8'

I
I

0.4H

0.6H

+ 9000

4300

due to liquidpressure on a cylindrical

wall hinged at the bottom

total (lb.ft./ft.)

in the Walls

and BendingMoments

Table3.-RingTension

13300

12500

- 1300

- 3710

9000

12000

8790

20

530

1480

+
+

85
-

+
+

205

735

65

955

preferred to other types because of the simplicity of

its shuttering and construction. A considerable reduction of the stresses in the base is achieved by taking
the diameter of the supporting shaft less than that of
the tank wall. A suitable choice of the overhanging
lengthisnecessary
to obtainvalues of the positive
and negative
radial
moments
which require the
minimum base thickness.
In thefollowing this type of tank will be analysed by
amomentdistributionmethod.Thejoint
between
the tank wall and the base (joint 2, Fig. 8) can rotate
and alsocan
move downwards. A directmoment
distribution calculation couldbe applied if the stiffness,
the carry-over factor and the fixed-end moments of the
overhanging partareevaluatedtakingintoaccount
that the outer edge can move downwards but is not
free to rotate.
For the sake of economy as well as good appearance
the cantilever part of the base slab is usually made
tapered with the greater thickness
at the inner edge.
The stiffness of thispartisgreatly
affected by the
variation of the thickness and consequently the
bendingmoments andthe ringtensionin
thetank
wall will also be affected. A method for the estimation
of the stiffness, the carry-over factors,and thefixed-end
moments in ring-shaped slabs of varying thickness is
presentedin the appendix.Thesevaluesarecalculated by the Author and plotted in curves
(Figs. 13,
14 and 15) for slabs of various ratios of inner to outer
diameters, also for various ratios of the thickness at
the inner andouter radii.The
fixed endmoments
are given due to a concentrated load P per unit length
on the outer edge (which represents the load from the
wall and the roof), and for uniformly distributed load
Q per unit area, (which represents the self-weight of the
slab base and the weight of the liquid above it).
The analysis of this type of tank by moment distribution will beexplained while solving anumerical
example.

Example 2 :

(bzeio)

Fig. 6.-Yament distribution

: Solution of Example 1.

The concrete water tower shown in Fig. 8 of 120,000

gallonscapacityissupported
on acylindrical shaft
28' diameter,castmonolithicwiththetank
base.
The thickness of the shaft wall near the top is 8". The
tank issupposed to becovered bya roof weighing
40 lb./sq.ft.,simplysupportedon
the tank walls. It
is required to find the bending moments in the slab
base, and the moments and ring tension on the walls
of the tank and the shaft.
Weight of the contained

170

The Structural Engimir

Fig.7.-Ringtensionandbendingmomentdiagramforatankonarigid
foundation(Example 1)
liquid 62.5 lb./cu.ft. ; weight of concretematerial
1
150 lb./cu.ft. Poisson's ratio p = 6
(a) Loads (see Fig. 9a)
Weight of roof, acting vertically on the top edge of
the wall
17
P = 40 X -- = 340 lb./ft. = 340 lb./ft.
2
Own weight of wall = 150

8
-;x 22 = 2200 lb./ft.
It

Total vertical load at the outer edge of the base slab

= 2540 Ib./ft.
Distributed loadon theoverhangingpart
of the
base (part 2 -3, Fig. 9a) including its own weight =

41 = 62.5 x 22

+ E)
X 150 = 1590 lb./ft.2
2 x 12

Distributed Ioad on part 3 -3 including own weight

26
q2 = 62.5 X 22 - X 150 = 1700 lb./ft.2
12

.I

- 0 795
- 260

t
068P

I0.5Sf

Q5021

(b) StiffnessFactors

S
-

The stiffness of allelements

E
terms of
12(1 -p").

will beestimatedin

0
(h) 2 k b u / ; o n and carry-over fucfors
MP- 4
rcom

3650

- 5250
. 3930
h2680

- 9uo

+
+
-

640
P30
(50
50

U0

- JZUO

Fig. 8

M3- 3 M3- 3 '

/Y2- 3

c-

f7980

6'6'20

U950

3380

-c-

+
t

+
-

//90 l

- 38700
f

7080

f.

1700

8f0

480

+ 040

f90

70

a0

20

26690

/oo

fO

FE

ffs

171

,May, l958
(i) Tank wall (element 2 -1)

pH=

s2-1

(ii) Base slab (element 2 -3)

1.3068 H - 1.3068
x 22
- 8.52
~
_
_ -_
8
dR.t-J17
X

p 13 =

);(

From the table or the graphs

given in the appendix
we get
due to concentratedload P ;
M = 0.270 X 2540 X 3.5 = 2,400
M2-3
due to distributed loadql;
M = 0.064 X 1590 X 3.52 = 1,250

x 2 x 8.52
7= 0.229
22

(ii) Base slab (element 2 -2) :

thickness at outer radius d = 9
Thickness at inner radius
=d+d.d=9+17=26
17
d
- = 1.89
9
27
Ratio of inner to outer radii = c = 34

3,650 Ib.ft./ft.

k13-2

5.10

:.

s3

d3

- (1

c.

+ p).

(S> i3.5
3

The radial fixing moment at the edge of a circular

slab of radius = c R, uniformly loaded by a
load q 2 is equal to ;

x 1 .l667 = 0.880

(iv) Shaft wall (element 3 -4) :

1 .3068
s3 = 2 pt3 = 2 x
x
$3.5

(A)

Thedistributionfactorsarecalculated
usual way and given in Fig. 9b.

= q 2 (?)2.

. . . . . .

= 0.258

M3-3= 1700 X- 13.5* - -38,700 lb.ft./ft.

8
Thedistribution process is carriedout in the usual
way and is shown in Fig. 9c. Because of the relatively
large values of the carry-over factors, the convergence
is comparatively slow, butthis does notadd much
difficulty to the problem. After the moments ,at the
joints are obtained, the variation
of thle fing tension
andthe moments in thetank wall is obtainedby
superimposing the effect of the liquidpressure on a
wall fixed at the base plus the effect of the relaxed
moment (4050 -3240 = 810 lb.ft./ft.) during thc distribution process. The moment and
ring
tension
along the shaft wall are obtained by considering the
effect of a moment (= 2700 lb.ft./ft.) acting at the top.
The variation of, the ring tension and the moment
in
a long cylindrical wall ( p H > x ) due to a radial
moment
M O applied at the edge (Fig. 10) is given by the equations

in the

(c) Carry-overFactors
The carry-over factors in the tank and shaft walls
are zero. The carry-over factors in thebase from 2 to 3
and from 3 to 2 are
f2-3 = -1.26 andfs--2 = -0.795
(taken from Table 5 in the appendix).
(d) Fixed-endMoments
(i) Tank wall (element 2 -1)

*
*

+ 4050 lb.ft./ft.

(13)

0.615

(iii) Base slab (element 3 -3) :

The radial moment which causes unit rotation at
the edge of a circular plate of radius c . R
E
d3
- (1
P)*

where s

due to concentrated load P ;

M = 0.920 X 2540 X 3.5 = 8,180
due to distributed load q1 ;
M = 0.502 X 1590 X 3.52 = 9,800

(iii) Base slab (element 3 -3) :

M
X

17,980 lb.ft./ft.
= 0.795

From the curves of Fig. 13 or from Table 5 (see

the appendix) we get
l
s2-3 = (&)3
X 3% X 4.07 = 0.491

s3-2

. .

(6)

This can be easily proved by the theory of bending of circular

plates, see Timoshenko, Strength of Materials, Part 11, p.132.
SeeTimoshenko,Strength
of Materials, Part 11; p.140.

Fig. 10

The Structural Engineer

172

Fig. 11.-Moments and ring tension diagrams for a water tower (Example

2)

T=-andM

3.4156 e-pxsirt px,

M Oe-pxcos

px

. . . .

. . . . .

(14)
(15)

Thevariationoftheradialandtangentialmoments
inthe base slab 3 -3' is obtainedbyaddingthe
moments due to a distributed load on a simply supported circular slab plus the
effect of the restraining
moment
along
the
support
(-29390 Ib.ft./ft.). A
radial moment M O applied on the edge of a circular
slab will cause constant radial and tangentialmoments
equal to MO. Theradialandtangentialmoments
at
different radii of a simply supported slab loaded by a
uniform load Q are given in Table 4.
In the overhanging part of the slab the tangential
moments are usually small and need notbe considered.
The reinforcement bars used asdistributorstothe
main steel in the radial direction are normally sufficient
to resist the tangential moments.
Of the bending
moments
tension in thetank
Of the above
in Fig. 11.

and the ring

are shown

9. Appendix : Stiffness, Carry-overFactorsand

Fixed-endMomentsinCircularRing-shaped
SlabsofVariableThickness
Circular plates of variable thickness requireeven

for the simple cases verytedious calculations. The

stiffness and carry-overfactors
andthe
fixed-end

The accuracy of this assumption is checked at the end of the

appendix.

(p=;)

Table4.-Radialand
Tangential Moments in auniformly
Circular Slab
loaded,simplysupported
yi

Radial moments
in terms of q . H *

0.2

0.4

0.8

0.1979 0.1900 0.1662 0.1267 0.0712

0.61.0

-------

Tangential
moments in terms
0.1979
of q.Rs

0.19420.1830 0.1642 0.1379 0.1042

moments for circular rings taperedtowardsthe

edge
are neededwhen calculating the stresses in a cylindrical
tank with a flat base supported on an inner
circular
support, as the tank of Fig. 8.
Because the inner and outer radii of the ring (Fig.
12a) are usually nearly equal, i.e. c is some factor round
unity, the tangential moments in the ring are small
andtheonlyimportant
moments are in theradial
direction. Hence,sucharing-shaped
slab is more or
less acting
as
over-hanging
radial
beams'.
The
variation of the thickness of theringhasaneffect
on its staticalbehaviour which is assumed for simplicity
as the same effecton aradialbeamwiththesame
variation of the thickness.

173

May, 1958
SA=

DA

1:::

dX

(1+x)

(1 + d43

(18)

which is the stiffness perunit Iength of the outer

edge of the slab. The stiffness at edge B is the moment
required for a unit rotation at edge B, while edge A
is held against rotation (butfree to move in thevertical
direction). The value of the stiffness per unit length
of edge B is

The values of the integral in equation (18) were calculated for different values of d and c (= 1 -c), and
then the stiffnesses S, and S, were calculated, they
are given in Table 5 and plotted in graphs (Fig. 13).
The values given are for ring slabs having the ratio
of the inner to the outerradii c = 0.6, 0.7,0.8,0.9 and
1.00, and values of d between zero and 2.

------l

Fig. 12b
(a) Stiffness
Consider an element of the ringslab of Fig. 12b
between twoverticalradial
sections with a width
unity at the outer edge. The thickness of this element
varies linearlybetween d at the outeredge and (d d d )
at the inner edge. The stiffening effect of the adjacent
elements of the ring-shaped slabon
the bending
deformation of the elementalradialbeamscan
be
takeninto
account by increasing the moment of
1
The flexinertia of each beam in the ratio
11-P2>
ural rigidity of the elemental beam a t edge A

which is also equal to the flexural rigidity of the slab

at the outer edge. The length of the elemental beam I
is equal to the difference between the two ring radii
I = R (1 -C) = cR
The thickness of the elementalbeam at any point
( X = X . I , see Fig. 12b) between A and B = d
ddx,
andthebreadthatthe
samepoint = 1 -(l -c).
x = 1 --G%.
The flexural rigidity at x is

EIx =

E
12 (1 - p )

(1 -xc)

(d

+ dd~)3

(17)

The stiffness of the elemental beam a t edge A is the

moment which causes a unit rotation at A . It could
be proved (10) that this moment is equal to

Fig. 13.-Stiffness

SA and S , atedges
ring-shaped slabs of variable thickness

A and B of

The

l74
(b) Carry-over- Factors
.- -.
.A moment applied at edge A of the elemental beam
Fig. 12b will becarried over to edge B with its full
value. If a moment S , per unit width is applied a t A ,
th,e momentperunitwidth
will bedeveloped at B
l
i s equalto - S,.
Withthe
sign conventionused,
..

the carry-over factor from A to H

1
fA-*

By a similar way,

=-C

M,= PI

M
,

=-

(PZ-M,)

(ii) Due to a distributed load q per unit area (Fig.

. . . .

(20)

(23)

15)

M A=

the carry-over factor from R to A

fB+

= -c

. . .

(21)

(c) Fixed-end Moments

The F.E.Ms. arecalculated for the two loadings :
(i) A concentrated load P per unit length on the slab.
(ii) A distributed load q per unit area of the slab.
Forboth loadings the edge A issupposed to be restrainedin direction but free tosettle downwards.
By considering a radialelement of the slab it could
be proved (10) that the F.E.Ms. per unit length of the
edges A and B are as follows :
(i) Due to a concentrated load P per unit length on
edge A (Fig. 14)

[f
1

Engineer

(24)

The values of the fixed-end moments M , and M , are

calculated by equations (22), (23), (24) and (25) and
given in Table 5 and plotted in graphs Figs. 14 and 15.
They are expressed in terms of PI for a concentrated
load P per unit length on the edge A , and in terms of
qZz for adistributed load g per unitarea.Theslabs
considered have the ratioc between 0.6 and 1.00 and d
between zero and 2.00.

Fig. 14.-Fixed-end moments M A and MB at edges A

and B of a ring-shaped slab of variable thickness due
P per unitlength of edge A.
toaconcentratedload

Fig.15.-Fixed-endmoments

M A and M B atedges

A and B of a ring-shaped slab of variable thickness due

to a distributedload of q unitarea.

May;.1958

175

Table 5.--Stiffness, carry-over factors and fixed end radial moments

T
1-c

c'=

d'

Stiffness factor

~SB
SA
in terms
in terms
of
of
DA
DA
l

I .oooo
I .6335
2.3143
3.0248
3.7552
4.5000

l .oooo
1.6335
2.3143
3.0248
3.7552
4.5000

-~
0
0.40
0.80
l .20
1.60
2.00

Carry-over factor

from

A to B

1.oooo

0.20
, p

,,

-0.30
,,

,.
8 ,
$ 9

,
0.40
. ,.I

$ 8

0
0.40
0.80
1.20
1.60
2.00

1.0546
1.7378
2.4774
3.2537
4.0537
4.87 1 1

0.949 l
1.5640
2.2297
2.9283
3.6483
4.3840

--

~-

l . 1204

0.8963
1.4914
2.1413
2.8273
3.5361
4.2644

2.6766
3.5341
4.4201
5.3305

0
0.40
0.80
1.20
1.60
2.00

0.8441
1.4152
2.0479
2.7196
3.4 176
4.1356

1.2016
2.0217
2.9256
3.885 1
4.8823
5.9080

0
0.40
0.80
1.20
l .60
2.00

0.7830
1.3342
1.g486
2.6048
3.2906
3.9984

1 B642

---

I'

P/unit length
on outer edge

-!

distributed load
qlunit area

---_-____

MA

fB-A

from

in terms
of
P.1

B to A

AfB

in terms
of
P.1

n!A

M,

in terms
of

in terms
of

4.12

4 .1 2

---

l .oooo

,,
.-

1.1111

..

F.E.Ms. due to

,>

0
0.40
0.80
1.20
l .60
2.00

-~~fA-B

in ring-shaped slab of variable thickness*

0.9000

,?

,
,

$ 9

,,

0.5000
0.4167
0.357 l
0.3 125
0.2779
0.2502
-

0.5000
0.5833
0.6429
0.6875
0.722 1
0.7498

0.1667
0.1269
0.1009
0.0826
0.069 l
0.0590

0.3333
0.3731
0.399 l
0.4 174
0.4309
0.4409

0.5087
0.4251
0.3648
0.3195
0.2842
0.2556

0.5459
0.6388
0.7058
0.7561
0.7953
0.827 1

0.1668
0.1278
0.1019
0.0837
0.0704
0.0596

0.3517
0.3950
0.4238
0.4440
0.4588
0.4708

0.1671
0.1289
0.1034
0.0851
0.0718
0.0606

0.3744
0.4222
0.4540
0.4765
0.4935
0.5075

~-

____-

1.2500
,
,,
,
,*

0.8000
, S

, p

0.5185
0.4348
0.3739
0.3277
0.29 14
0.2623

0.60 l9
0.7065
0.7827
0.8404
0.8858
0.922 l

--

l .3050
2.2237
3.2477
4.3413
5.4843
6.6640

1.4286

0.5296
0.4454
0.3838
0.3367
0.2997
0.2701

B
t

1.6667

0.6000

t
t

,)
t

0.5423
0.4576
0.3952
0.3475
0.3093
0.2787

0.1680
0.6720
0.1305
0.7923
0.1049
0.8803
0.0868
0.9476
0.0731
I .0004
1.0427
0.0616
___~0.7628
0.9040
1.0080
1.Os75
1.1512
1.2022

Thc outer edge is free to move downwards but restrained ir direction.

0.1692
0.1324
0.1072
0:089 1
0.0754
0.0632

0 4029
0.4565
0.4930
0.5189 .
0.5385
0.5549
0.4402
0.5015
0.5435
l .5737
0.5965
0.61 69

The Structural Engineer

176

(d) Check on Original Assumption

Theaccuracy of the analysis of ring-shaped slabs
bythe consideration of elementstakenasseparate
radial beams will be checked here by the comparison
of the valuesobtainedbythisanalysiswiththose
obtained by an exact slab analysis for the case of a
slab of constant thickness. Consider theslab shown
in Fig. 16, it is required to find the stiffness a t end B ,

The moment at the outeredge will be

= -D- =2- c- . (Mr)r= R

R (1 4

The carry-over factor from

2 )

D
I

2c
(1

+ c)

(31)

B to A

Consider the case of a ring slab having

c = 0.6 and
p = 6. Substitutingthese values in equations (30)
and (32) we get

and
fB-A

2 x 0.6
- 0.5745
(1
0.6) 1.3055 -

Thecorrespondingvaluesobtained
by consideration
of an elemental radial beam are(see Table 5 for c = 0.6
and d = 0):
or the radial moment per unit length of the circumference a t B which makes a unit rotation at this end
while theouter edge is restraintagainstrotation.
Inthis case there is noloading onthe slab. The
equation which defines the deflected surface of the ring
is :
W = A1
Azlogr
A4r210gr
(see equation 10).
The constants A I , A 2 , A 3and A4 are to be determined
from the following edge conditions
atedgeB,r=cR;O=landw=O,]

a t edge A , r = R ; 0 = 0 andQ = 0,
where 8 is the rotation and Q is the shear.

The constants A1 to A4 which satisfy these conditions

are

As=-

and

2 R (1 -C)

A4=O

The radial moment

and
fB-*
= 0.6000
Comparison between the values obtained by the two
methods shows the degree of accuracy in the original
assumptionadopted
for thedetermination
of the
values given in Table 5 and the graphs of Figs. 13, 14
and 15.

Acknowledgment
This investigation was carried out at the Department of Civil
Engineering, Leeds University, partly in thecourse of an analysis
concerning theStructuralBehaviour
of Concrete Tanks.The
writer would liket o express his sincere thanks
t o Professor R. H.
Evans,
D.Sc.,
Ph.D.,
M.I.Struct.E.,
M.I.C.E.,
M.I.Mech.E.,
and toDr. E. Lightfoot,M.Sc .,Ph.D.,A.M.I.Struct.E.,
A.M.I.C.E.
whose guidance and careful supervision enabled this paper to be
written.
References
1. MBrkus, Gy., Analysis of CircularStorage
Tankswith
Plane Covers and Floor Plates by the Moment Distribution
Method, Viziigyi Kozlkmenyek (Hydraulic
Proceedings),
1953, II,
Budapest.
(In
Hungarian
with
German
and
English abstracts).
2. Lavery, J. H., ContinuityinElevatedCylindricalTank
of the Institution of Engineers,
Structures, TheJournal
Australia, Vol. 20, 1948, October and November.
3. Salter, G., Design of CircularConcrete Tanks, Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. 105,
1940.

Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Tanks, published by

the Concrete Association of India, Bombay, 1953. (A reprint
of the PortlaEd Cement Association Chicago).
5 . Gray, W. S., ReinforcedConcreteReservoirs andTanks,
Concrete Publications Ltd., London.
6 North, J . C. CylindricalReinforcedConcreteSurface
Tanks, New Zealand Engineering, December, 1952.
7. Timoshenko, S., Theory of Platesand Shells, McGraw
Hill Book Co., London, 1940.
8. MarkusGy., Analysis of Circular Plates by the Moment
Distribution
Method,
Viziigyi
Kozlkmenyek
(Hydraulic
Proceedings), 1952, I,Budapest. (In Hungarian with German
and English ,+bstracts).
9. Oravas, G., Analysis of CollarSlabsforShells
of Revolutions, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers,
Vol. 82, March, 1956.
10. Ghali, A., Ph.D. Thesis, The Structural Analysis of Circular
and Rectanplar Concrete Tanks, University 01Leeds, 1957.
4.

The stiffness S , is equaltothe

which causes unit rotation,

moment at edge B

l? we get
Substituting for R by 1 -c
D (1 c2) -(l -c2)
S, = -

C!l+C)

. .

(30)