Analysis of the influence of thermal effects on a cylindrical prestressed water tank

Results of the analyses of a cylindrical prestressed tank taking into account thermal effects and the variable water level are presented. Static calculations were carried out using the finite element method with rotationally symmetric models after the shell model had been calibrated on the basis of the results from the solid (3D) model. As a result of the calculations, the influence of the internal forces on the spacing of the prestressing cables in the ultimate and serviceability limit states was determined, taking into account two variants of temperature loading, which was the factor under evaluation. A value for the combination factor in the quasi-permanent load combination is also proposed, together with a suggestion to take into account the non-linear temperature distribution across the wall thickness when determining the bending moments in the tank walls.