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Seismic Loading: UBC Code Formulas
Seismic Loading: UBC Code Formulas
Seismic Loading
Seismic forces, movement caused by earthquakes and other shifts of the earth, are
among the strongest external forces that can affect a tank scale. Figure 4-4 shows
seismic potential for the United States, with seismic zone 0 being the least likely
location for an earthquake and seismic zone 4 the most likely location for an
earthquake.
Seismic forces are analyzed in much the same way as wind forces. An equivalent
horizontal shear force (FEQ) is determined by using the appropriate formulas from the
governing building code. Formulas referenced in this section are from the 1988
Uniform Building Code (UBC) as adopted by the State of California, a state with a high
risk of seismic activity.
Nonhazardous
Hazardous
Conservative
Nonconservative
Free-Standing Bin/Hopper
Zone 4
Zone 3
Zone 2B
Zone 2A
Zone 1
0.28
0.21
0.14
0.10
0.07
0.41
0.31
0.21
0.15
0.10
0.34
0.26
0.17
0.13
0.09
Zone 4
Zone 3
Zone 2B
Zone 2A
Zone 1
Structural Bin/Hopper/Tank
Zone 4
Zone 3
Zone 2B
Zone 2A
Zone 1
Roof-Mounted Bin/Hopper/Tank
Zone 4
Zone 3
Zone 2B
Zone 2A
Zone 1
0.37
0.28
0.18
0.14
0.09
0.55
0.41
0.28
0.21
0.14
0.46
0.34
0.23
0.17
0.11
0.30
0.23
0.15
0.11
0.08
0.75
0.56
0.38
0.28
0.19
0.63
0.47
0.31
0.23
0.16
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.30
0.20
1.20
0.90
0.60
0.45
0.30
1.00
0.75
0.50
0.38
0.25
Free-Standing Tank
Table 4-1: Horizontal Shear Force Factors (FEQ) Based on UBC Code
V == FFEQe q
V
W gross
CAUTION
CALCULATIONS ARE PROVIDED AS GUIDELINES ONLY. THEY SHOULD NOT
REPLACE A STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING EVALUATION OF THE APPLICATION BY A
REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH LOCAL
BUILDING CODES.