Edge Settlement

of
Storage Tank Bottoms

API Standard 653

Appendix B

Presented by:
Steven L. Braune, PE
Tank Industry Consultants
API-653, First Edition

The allowable edge settlement limit

B = 0.37R

Very conservative

Based on several published articles

A recommendation only
 R

R
B = 0.37R

B
Early Experience

Observed edge settlement typically
exceeded API recommendations

API-653 permitted a more detailed

evaluation

Many oil companies developed methods

Early In-House Practice
(Experience-Based)
B = 2.0(R)

B = 1.6(R)
B

B = 0.37(R)

R
Another Approach
(Elastic-Plastic Beam Model)
B = 0.45(R2)

B = 0.37(R)

R
Tank Settlement Revision Task
Group… mid-1990s

Initial recommendations revised

Several API-member companies shared

in-house practices

Current recommendations are about 2

to 4 times greater than original limit
Finite Element Models

Two oil companies had extensive
experience using FEA for edge
settlement evaluations

Analysis procedures and evaluation

criteria differed… similar in principle

Formed basis for API Task Group work

Appendix B Revisions
Settlement Curves

Settlement curves varied by diameter

Accepts two inches of settlement

Additional NDE required for edge

settlements > 75% of allowable

Limits based on fillet weld strength

 Figure B-10 for Bew
Bew – Maximum Allowable
Settlement (inches)

R – Radius of Settled Area (feet)

Figure B-10… Lap Welds Approximately Parallel to Shell
 Figure B-11 for Be
Be – Maximum Allowable
Settlement (inches)

R – Radius of Settled Area (feet)

Figure B-11… Lap Welds Approx. Perpendicular to Shell
 Figure B-10 for Bew

120 ft
Diameter
Tank
Bew=3.8 in.

R = 3 feet
 Figure B-11 for Be

120 ft
Diameter
Tank
Be=4.7 in.

R = 3 feet
Bottom Weld Orientation

Edge settlement, B limited to…

B = Be − (Be − Bew)sinα

Bew= Allowable for weld parallel to shell

Be= Allowable for weld perpendicular
to shell

Weld angle relative to radial line
A Rigorous Stress Analysis

If actual settlements exceed
recommended limits…

Repair the tank

Perform a rigorous stress analysis
A Recent Result…

A rigorous stress analysis was
performed on a tank with edge
settlements of near 90% of limit

Client wanted to know if tank should be

repaired now or could they monitor
settlement for a few more years
 Finite Element Analysis Results
Current
Settlement
Tank Shell
Profile

90% of API limit

Projected 150% of API limit

Settlement
Profiles
 QUESTIONS?
Steven L. Braune, PE
Tank Industry Consultants
www.TankIndustry.com
804.897-7176