Numerical analysis of the behavior of buried and semi-buried reinforced concrete water storage tanks strengthened with polymer-plastic rebars considering the fluid-structure interaction in ABAQUS

The study of the behavior of reinforced concrete drinking water storage tanks, particularly in buried and semi-buried conditions, is of great importance due to their critical role in maintaining urban infrastructure stability after earthquakes. Determining the key factors influencing the estimation of seismic lateral forces especially the response modification factor is of particular significance. Moreover, the nonlinear behavior of structures during earthquakes results in a considerable portion of the input seismic energy being dissipated through damping and hysteresis. In this research, to enhance the durability and seismic performance of such tanks, polymer-plastic rebars were employed as an alternative to conventional steel reinforcement. The behavior of two reinforced concrete tank models (buried and semi-buried), strengthened with polymeric-plastic rebars, was numerically analyzed in ABAQUS considering the fluid-structure interaction. Due to their high corrosion resistance, low weight, and favorable tensile performance, polymer-plastic rebars represent a suitable substitute for steel rebars in humid and corrosive environments. The analysis results revealed that using these rebars improves the elastic behavior of the structure, enhances energy absorption, reduces stress concentrations, and effectively controls ultimate displacements. The maximum displacement was obtained as ۰.۰۰۲۵ m for the buried model and ۰.۰۰۸۵ m for the semi-buried model, indicating the superior seismic performance of the buried tank. Overall, the findings demonstrate that combining buried structural design with the application of polymer-plastic rebars provides an effective approach for improving durability, reducing seismic vulnerability, and enhancing the structural performance of reinforced concrete water storage tanks.

کلیدواژه ها:

Drinking water storage tanks ، buried concrete tanks ، semi-buried concrete tanks ، polymer-plastic rebars ، fluid-structure interaction