Ol, STORAGE TANK FOUNDATIONS ‘Too often the importance of foun~ dations is underestimated. Since the flat bouemed oil tank is one of the simplest types of structure and has suiticient ilexibility to accommodate appreciable changes in shape, the Foundation on which it rests is fre- quently given Hitle consideration, With “the advent of larger and higher tanks, the esfects of poor foun- mis were multiplied, ‘The larger ‘not only imposes a heavier load and hence causes greater settlements, tur the distortion caused by any given settlement is, in some measure, pro- portional to the size of the tank. Ti auidition, the floating roof user has become inereasingly conscious of the importance of a shoe-to-shell fit that is xs nearly perfect as possible, Temiust be obvious that perfection can best be atlained if the tank shell is baile civewar and remains cireular within reasonable limits. TT the grade is not level in the be- ginning, or if 1 later settles unevenly, the tanks will inevitably have a dist torted shell. Often the tank builder is blamed for a poor shell that should properly be charged to a poor founda- tion, Tn order to obtain. good tanks, good foundations must be provided Proper grade preparation can also have an important bearing on bottom corrosion. Tans erected on poorly Grained grades, directly contacting cortosive sols or on heterogeneous nistures of different types of soils are all subject to electrolytic atack on the bottom side. By leving E. Bobera. Chiet Engineer There is no rule of thumb that can bbe applied to all situations, Each case ‘must be evaluated om the basis of con- ditions as they exist. Local conditions vary so widely that it would be im- possible to anticipate them all. An attempt has been made in the material that follows to deal with the more common aspects of tank foundation desiga. In Selecting the proper type of foundation, the bearing power of the soil is the primary factor. Where no previous experieriee in de same area is available, soil borings to determine ‘existing conditions are usually cheap ingurance against future trouble, We have seen a number of instances where tank sites were judged solely from surface conditions only to have the empty tanks settle so seriously during construction that the water test could not be performed until the foundation was rectified. With the tanks already erected, this could only be accomplished at great expense. We know of one instance where a tank settled under water test to stich aan extent that it collapsed. While these are extremes, they serve ta illustrate the importance of first knowing the nature of the foun dation dase. Knowledge of geological formation or experience with other heavy structures in the same vicini will often suffice, but if such knowl ‘edge is absent, Soil borings are the safest means of investigation. There are many firms over the country well skilled in the art of making such bor- ings. Sofl beating tets are now yen erally conceded to have litle vale Giher than to evaluate conditions at the tested level, ‘The depth to whieh fn applied Toad will produce sigoii- tant stresses isin some measure pro- Dortional to the size of the loaded Brea. A large tank fully loaded will probe out wealmesses never revealed bya test on 1 or 2 square fect Frequently. the resule of borings will inicate the desirability of limite ing tank height rather than the cx pense of costly foundations. ‘Assuming that bearing conditions have been determined to be adequate, the simplest form of foundation is 2 Sand pad laid directly on the earth ‘All loam or organie materia] should tbe removed and replaced with suit able material, well compacted. Often Sa satisfactory fill material is available atthe site. if not, banks run gravel is excellent and is readily ‘compacted, “The grade for the tank sl preferably be elevated slightly sicve Ihe surrounding terrain. to Grainage, ‘Sullicient bers shou provided. to prevent ws Wweathering under te tank djerm width should be at Te Weathering can be minimize erm is subsequently protected. with tray tock, gravel, of at asphaltic ashi Tt is Customary to provide a crown of about 1 in, for each 10 i, of ra- dius. On large tanks, the erown is sometimes Timited to 6 in ‘The wand pad should be at least Jore placing sand cushion, sadreplaced with well cc stone "aN ano uss TYPICAL TANK GRADE -ojige ox ctor orale maar shouldbe semeval from te pe oy ind hi “Frequently the entire area is stripped and the strippings used in cons tig Oe Reewall’ Bers shosla’ be. protected against weather wih we ‘rock, gravel or asphalt,