Cylindrical Water Tanks Resting on Soil of Varying Stiffness

Cylindrical water tanks that rest on the ground are commonly employed in water-supply schemes. It is preferred to rest the tank on uniform strata; however, sometimes water tanks need to be rested on strata with varying stiffness. Design professionals generally use coefficients provided by authorities to arrive at hoop forces and bending moments in the wall by considering the base as either hinged or fixed. This paper presents the results of a study of the behavior of cylindrical water tanks resting on nonuniform strata. Marked difference in forces and wall behavior from those noted by authorities were observed. The paper highlights special considerations for the effective performance of such structures in actual field conditions. (C) 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.