Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of the Performance of Baffles in Anchored and Unanchored Cylindrical Liquid Storage Tanks

Cylindrical steel storage tanks are vital infrastructure for storing liquids like water, oil, and chemicals, yet they are highly susceptible to seismic damage, leading to economic, environmental, and safety risks. While baffles are known to mitigate sloshing in anchored tanks, their effectiveness in unanchored tanks remains underexplored. This study investigates the seismic performance of both anchored and unanchored tanks, with and without the annular baffle, addressing this research gap. Nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed using the Coupled Acoustic-Structure (CAS) method in ABAQUS, simulating the ۱۹۹۵ Kobe earthquake, with results validated against experimental data. Findings reveal that the baffle reduces sloshing displacement by ۵۰.۸% in both tank types (anchored and unanchored), though it increases total shear force, particularly in anchored tanks (۳۶.۱% vs. ۱.۱% in unanchored). In unanchored tanks, the baffle significantly decreases uplift by ۶۶.۲% and plastic strain at the base by ۶۱.۳%, enhancing seismic resilience. While the baffle offers limited benefits for the anchored tank, it markedly improves the dynamic response of the unanchored tank by mitigating sloshing, uplift, and plastic deformation. These results underscore the potential of baffles as a passive control strategy for improving the seismic design of unanchored storage tanks.

کلیدواژه ها:

Unanchored Liquid Tank ، Anchored Liquid Tank ، Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis ، Coupled Acoustic-Structure (CAS) Method ، Baffled Tanks