Shock Response Analysis of a Large LNG Storage Tank Under Blast Loads

• Published in: KSCE journal of civil engineering Vol. 22; no. 9; pp. 3419 - 3429
• Main Authors: Zhang, Rulin, Jia, Juanjuan, Wang, Huaifeng, Guan, Youhai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Korean Society of Civil Engineers 01.09.2018; Springer Nature B.V; 대한토목학회
• Subjects: 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene; Aerial explosions; Algorithms; Blast loads; Blast resistance; Civil Engineering; Computer simulation; Concrete; Construction; Dynamic response; Empirical analysis; Energy consumption; Engineering; Equivalence; Explosions; Finite element method; Gas leaks; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Green buildings; Industrial Pollution Prevention; Liquefied natural gas; Load; Loads (forces); Mathematical models; Overpressure; Petroleum; Reinforced concrete; Response analysis; Simulation; Storage tanks; Structural damage; Structural Engineering; Tensile stress; Wave propagation; 토목공학; LNG storage tank; peak overpressure formula; explosions; dynamic response; ALE algorithm; numerical simulation
• ISSN: 1226-7988; 1976-3808
• DOI: 10.1007/s12205-017-1246-x

Ensuring the safe operation of large LNG storage tank projects under blast loads is very important. First, using LS-DYNA software, numerical simulations of air blast wave propagation are studied with the ALE algorithm and fluid-solid coupling theory. A new corrected formula for the peak overpressure is proposed based on the numerical results, and its accuracy is verified by comparing the numerical results with the empirical formula and test results. Then, a finite element model of a large LNG storage tank is built, assuming that the explosion source is located 10 m away from both the ground and the tank wall. This model is used to analyse the overpressure and dynamic response of the outer concrete tank and to predict the TNT equivalent quantity that the tank can withstand. The results show that the tank wall facing the burst loads is in a more dangerous state and that the principal tensile stress increases approximately linearly with increasing TNT equivalent quantity. When the TNT equivalent quantity reaches 2.5 t, concrete element failure occurs on the centre facing the explosions, and the outer tank structure is damaged. The conclusions can provide a reference for the blast-resistant design of large LNG storage tanks.