Storage tanks under earthquake loading, a case study. Evaluation of Eurocode 8 predictions

The behaviour under earthquake loading of an LNG (liquefied natura) gas)-tank with a diameter of 75 meters and a height of 32 meters has been studied analytically and numerically. Design rules for achieving a safe design, provided by Eurocode 8 'Design of structures for earthquake resistance - Part 4 : silos, tanks and pipelines' (ENV 1998-4) were evaluated. Special attention was paid to the failure mechanism of elephant's foot buckling. The results gave rise to a proposal for modification of some application rules in ENV 1998-4