While tanks can accommodate loads of as light as 100,000 gallons to as heavy as millions of gallons, only bigger tanks need because of the higher cost it takes to pre stress small tanks. More or less, 250,000 gallons is a good number to start with. While not much information on actual maximum tank volume is reported, there are living proofs of big tanks that can support million gallon loads. The walls of standpipe tanks can reach as high as 80 feet. Further education on the subject of steel fibre can be found at shotcrete.
As a matter of function, the tank floor should allow for angular rotation when the tank is loaded by building a lightweight but heavily reinforced concrete slab that is not too thick at 4 inches. However, a structural floor should be considered if the soil or water table condition does not warrant a standard floor. To remedy structural movements that occur around the perimeter of the tank floor due to the wall and roof weights, the wall base can be further strengthened by adding enormous solid foundation around the perimeter.
Under normal conditions, a standard tank floor is made of a 4 inch thick concrete slab reinforced with steel to act as a flexible membrane. For earthquake prone areas, however, the tank floor should be designed and constructed to withstand seismic movements to maintain structural integrity. To remedy structural movements that occur around the perimeter of the tank floor due to the wall and roof weights, the wall base can be further strengthened by adding enormous solid foundation around the perimeter.
Tags: concrete slab, standard tank, steel fibre, tank floor, tank volume