Hydrodynamic forces on submerged vertical circular cylindrical tanks under ground excitation

Abstract

This paper investigates hydrodynamic pressures and forces on submerged vertical cylindrical tanks under the action of harmonic ground excitations. Water is assumed to be imcompressible and inviscid, motion irrotational and waves are of small amplitude. Semi-analytical method is used for the solution, that is, the fluid domain is divided into inner and outer regions. The Laplace equations governing velocity potentials for the two regions are solved by separation of variables and expressed in terms of eigenfunctions of the resulting equations which satisfy appropriate boundary conditions. Continuity of pressure and velocity at the interface of the inner and outer regions provides the necessary equations from which the velocity potentials, pressures and forces are obtained. Numerical results are presented in graphical form for forces and pressures for a range of excitation frequencies for selected proportions of tank geometry and water depth.