Numerical Parameter Study on the Structural Behavior of Corrugated Steel Tanks

Abstract The structural behavior of horizontally profiled corrugated steel tank structures was investigated using a finite element parameter study. The focus was on the treatment of imperfections in the design. As there are no specific imperfection reduction factors for corrugated tanks, those from DIN EN 1993‐1‐6, Annex D, for unstiffened circular cylindrical shells with constant wall thickness are used in practice. To be on the safe side, some users and testers interpret the wave amplitude itself as the imperfection amplitude. The study showed that the shells have low initial stiffness under axial loading. As the load increases, large circumferential tensile stresses are generated which have a load‐increasing effect on the structure. As a result, higher axial loads can be achieved compared to plain sheet shells. Current practice in selecting suitable substitute imperfections has proved to be extremely conservative.