Experimental investigation of liquid-tank interaction effects on full containment LNG storage tanks through shaking table tests

Abstract

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks play a crucial role as primary storage facilities in modern gas supply systems. This study investigates the seismic response of full containment LNG storage tanks through shaking table tests. A 1/14 scale model structure is meticulously constructed and subjected to testing. The test comprises two distinct phases: an empty tank phase and a water-filled tank phase. The primary emphasis of this paper is the exploration of the effects of liquid–tank interaction. A novel no-contact binocular video synchronization measurement system is developed by utilizing high-speed cameras to accurately measure the liquid sloshing height. The seismic responses of both the liquid and the tank, including acceleration and hydrodynamic pressure, are meticulously measured and analyzed. Findings reveal that the filling fluid has a significant effect on the tank, particularly the steel inner tank. The liquid sloshing phenomenon influences the hydrodynamic pressures, with the magnitude of influence decreasing as the liquid depth increases. In addition, a comparison is conducted between the experimental liquid sloshing height and hydrodynamic pressure results and those obtained from liquid linear forced sloshing theory. Liquid linear forced sloshing theory fails to accurately predict liquid sloshing height for large-amplitude sloshing but provides a rough estimate of hydrodynamic pressure distribution on the tank wall. Two simplified mechanical models for liquid sloshing are proposed and compared with the experimental results. The outcomes demonstrate that the Housner method exhibits relatively large errors, while the simplified mechanical models based on liquid linear forced sloshing theory accurately describe cases with small-amplitude liquid sloshing.