Buckling of cylindrical liquid-storage tanks under earthquake loading

The earthquake response behaviour of a cylindrical wine storage tank similar to many that were damaged in Livermore, California during the January 1980 earthquake was studied on the University of California shaking table. Tests of the 9.5 ft diameter by 20 ft high tank, with simulated earthquake accelerations up to 0.95 g, induced buckling patterns similar to those observed after the actual earthquake. Observed peak axial compression stresses in the test tank wall were substantially higher than those assumed in typical design standards, demonstrating the need for further study of the buckling problem in tanks free to uplift during earthquake excitation.