Evaluation of the Liquid Storage Tank Failures in the 1999 Kocaeli Earthquake

Abstract eng:
Significant damages to liquid storage tanks have occurred during the 1999 Kocaeli earthquake. More than 30 of the floating-roof Naphta tanks have failed due to fires at the Tupras refinary and 2 elevated liquid oxygen tanks collapsed due to the failure of their reinforced concrete pedestals at the HABAS plant. This paper begins by outlining the mechanical analogue systems to be used for calculating the overturning moment and the base shear in tank wall as well as the free surface displacements for cylindrical tanks subjected to horizontal base excitation. Seismic responses of the floating-roof Naphta tanks at the Tupras refinary were analyzed using a Matlab scipt based on the mechanical analogue systems with the acceleration time-histories records collected from the site. Results of these analyses confirmed the excessive sloshing action. It was concluded that the frequency content of the base acceleration has a significant influence on the seismic response and that site-specific time-history records should be utilized in the design of critical tanks. Furthermore, it is pointed out that there is a need to check the reliability of existing tank farms, especially those built before the 70s, with the current codes of design.

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