The dynamic behavior of water tanks

1963/02/01 by George W. Housner · 802 citations
Engineering · #Engineering #Environmental engineering #Environmental science #Fluid Dynamics Simulations and Interactions #Geology #Geotechnical engineering #Ground motion #Mechanics #Physics #Relative motion #Storage tank #Structural engineering #Waste management #Water tanks

paper · doi:10.1785/bssa0530020381

published in Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 53(2), 381-387 (Seismological Society of America)

openalex publication_date 1963/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

abstract During the Chilean earthquakes of May, 1960, a number of large elevated water tanks were severely damaged whereas others survived without damage. An analysis of the dynamic behavior of such tanks must take into account the motion of the water relative to the tank as well as the motion of the tank relative to the ground. Some simple expressions are given for the pertinent dynamic properties of tanks with free water surface. A simplified dynamic analysis is indicated for the response of elevated water tanks to earthquake ground motion.

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