Open Access

ARTICLE

Numerical Simulation of Fluid-Structure Interaction of LNG Prestressed Storage Tank under Seismic Influence

by X. H. Du¹, X. P. Shen¹

1 School of Architecture and Civil Engineering. Shenyang University of Technology. Shenyang,China. E-mail: rico1984@126.com.

Computers, Materials & Continua 2010, 20(3), 225-242. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmc.2010.020.225

Abstract

Aim of this paper is to estimate the integrity of liquefied natural gas (LNG) prestressed storage tank under seismic influence. The coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) analysis technique is used to simulate the fluid-structure interaction between LNG and the cylinder of LNG prestressed storage tank. The 3-D model of LNG has been dispersed by Eulerian mesh that is different from traditional analysis method which is called the added mass method. Meanwhile, both of the 3-D models of prestressed rebar and concrete structure are dispersed by Lagrangian mesh. Following conclusions are obtained: 1) Natural frequency of the whole model has been obtained by using the Block Lanczos algorithm in Abaqus; 2) Seismic waves of El Centro and Taft have been selected for time history analysis, and curves of displacement, stress and acceleration have been plotted under two seismic waves respectively. By comparing time points when the maximum displacement, stress and acceleration occurred to splash phenomena of LNG liquid surface, numerical results can fit splash phenomena of LNG very well. 3)When El Centro wave is imported, the maximum values of displacement and tension stress of concrete structure are 7.729mm and 2.16MPa respectively, and the maximum values of displacement and tension stress of concrete structure are 9.4mm and 0.24MPa respectively when Taft wave is applied. The values of maximum tension stress are less than the axial tensile strength of the standard value of concrete, which indicate that the structure of LNG prestressed storage tank is safe, and numerical results can provide a reference to monitor the liability of this kind of structures.

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