COMPARATIVE SEISMIC ANALYSIS OF CYLINDRICAL AND RECTANGULAR OIL TANKS: EFFECTS OF WALL THICKNESS UNDER SOIL–STRUCTURE–FLUID INTERACTION

Oil and liquid storage tanks represent essential components of industrial infrastructure, guaranteeing the secure containment of petroleum, chemical, and other hazardous liquids. Their seismic performance plays a crucial role in mitigating risks of leakage, structural collapse, and environmental contamination [1,2]. While most existing research has concentrated on cylindrical storage tanks—the predominant configuration in industry—rectangular tanks are also employed in specific applications, yet their seismic behavior remains insufficiently explored [5]. This study presents a comparative numerical analysis of the seismic response of cylindrical and rectangular oil tanks, incorporating full soil–structure–fluid interaction and accounting for the influence of wall thickness [5,7]. Three-dimensional finite element models are developed in ADINA using a coupled Lagrangian formulation for the fluid domain [6], and the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake (Taiwan) is applied as ground motion input [10]. The analysis evaluates variations in tensile stresses, hydrodynamic pressures, and fluid velocity distributions across different wall thicknesses [8]. Results demonstrate the significant impact of tank geometry and wall stiffness on dynamic behavior and provide design recommendations for safer tank configurations in seismically active regions [5,7].