Engineering Encyclopedia: Determining Acceptability of Materials For Storage Tanks

Engineering Encyclopedia
Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards
DETERMINING ACCEPTABILITY
OF MATERIALS FOR STORAGE TANKS
Note: The source of the technical material in this volume is the Professional
Engineering Development Program (PEDP) of Engineering Services.
Warning: The material contained in this document was developed for Saudi
Aramco and is intended for the exclusive use of Saudi Aramco’s employees.
Any material contained in this document which is not already in the public
domain may not be copied, reproduced, sold, given, or disclosed to third
parties, or otherwise used in whole, or in part, without the written permission
of the Vice President, Engineering Services, Saudi Aramco.
Chapter : Mechanical For additional information on this subject, contact

File Reference: MEX-203.02 PEDD Coordinator on 874-6556
Engineering Encyclopedia Evaluating Storage Tank Design and Installation
Determining Acceptability
of Materials for Storage Tanks
Section Page
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 2
EFFECT OF MATERIAL STRENGTH AND FRACTURE TOUGHNESS
PROPERTIES ON MATERIAL SELECTION................................................................... 3
Strength .................................................................................................................. 3
Fracture Toughness ................................................................................................ 4
Determining Fracture Toughness.................................................................... 6
Factors that Influence Fracture Toughness..................................................... 7
Material Selection.................................................................................................... 8
SPECIFYING MATERIAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO THE PRIMARY
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF STORAGE TANKS .............................................. 10
SAES-D-100.......................................................................................................... 11
32-SAMSS-005 ..................................................................................................... 13
SAES-W-017......................................................................................................... 14
API-650 ................................................................................................................. 14
Strength Considerations................................................................................ 15
Fracture Toughness Considerations ............................................................. 16
SUMMARY.................................................................................................................... 21
WORK AID 1: MATERIAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO PRIMARY
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF STORAGE TANKS .............................................. 22
GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................. 25
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Location of Materials Selection Information..................................................... 10
Table 2. SAES-D-100 Corrosion Allowance Requirements ........................................... 12
Table 3. Permissible Plate Materials and Allowable Stresses ....................................... 16
Table 4. API-650 Material Groups ................................................................................. 17
Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards i

INTRODUCTION
MEX 203.02, Determining Acceptability of Materials for Storage
Tanks, describes the material properties that are significant in
selecting materials. This module also provides an overview of
the overall process that a tank design contractor uses to select
storage tank materials. This module also explains the standards
and requirements that must be met in the selection of materials
for the primary components of storage tanks.
As the module points out, the tank design contractor must
observe these standards and requirements in the material
selection process. The Saudi Aramco engineer must use these
standards and requirements to determine whether the selected
materials are acceptable. Materials selection begins the process
of overall tank design, which will be discussed further in MEX
203.03.
Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 2

EFFECT OF MATERIAL STRENGTH AND FRACTURE TOUGHNESS

PROPERTIES ON MATERIAL SELECTION
The materials that are to be used for the primary structural
components of a storage tank must first be selected before
these components can be designed. This section discusses the
following items:
• Material strength and fracture toughness properties
• General steps that are used to select appropriate materials
Note: COE 105 discussed the strength and fracture toughness
properties of materials and how these properties are considered
in selecting construction materials for process equipment. This
section briefly reviews that information, and it then applies it to
atmospheric storage tanks.
Strength
Strength is the ability of a material to withstand an imposed
force or stress. The strength of a material is defined by its yield
strength, ultimate tensile strength, and creep strength. Material
creep strength is only a design factor at temperatures that are
above approximately 427°C (800°F). Because the design
temperatures for storage tank applications are never more than
260°C (500°F), the tensile and yield strengths are the only
strength properties that are of concern for storage tanks.
The yield strength and the tensile strength of a material
decrease as the material temperature increases. The tank
material strength is a minimum at the maximum temperature to
which the tank will be exposed. Therefore, material strength
considerations are pertinent to ensure that tank components will
not fracture at the maximum operating temperature of the tank.
Component fracture that is caused by exceeding the material
strength is ductile in nature and is preceded by permanent
deformation. Therefore, there is normally time to take some
form of remedial action to reduce the imposed loads before a
component fracture occurs.

The maximum operating temperature of the tank is specified on

either the Storage Tank Design Specification Sheet (Drawing
2696) or the Storage Tank Data Sheet (Appendix L of API-650).
Specification of the maximum operating temperature ensures
that material strength is properly considered in tank design.
Copies of Drawing 2696 and API-650 are in Course Handouts 3
and 1 respectively. Both of these items were discussed in MEX
203.01.
The strength of the material, as defined by its tensile and yield
properties, has a direct impact on the structural design of tank
components. Storage tank components are designed to have a
margin between the maximum stress that is permitted under the
imposed load conditions and both the yield strength and tensile
strength of the material. The allowable stress is the maximum
stress that is permitted in a component for design purposes.
Because the yield strength and tensile strength define failure
limits of a material, a safety factor is used between the
allowable stress and the stress at which a tank component is
considered to fail.
API-650 specifies safety factors for the determination of
allowable stresses. For example, when a tank shell is designed
for the loads that are imposed by the stored liquid, the allowable
stress is limited to the lower of the following two values: two-
thirds of the yield strength, or two-fifths of the tensile strength of
the material. API-650 specifies allowable stresses for each
material specification that may be used to construct an
atmospheric storage tank. Allowable stresses are discussed
again later in this module. MEX 203.03 discusses the
application of allowable stress to storage tank design.
Fracture Toughness
Fracture toughness is the ability of a material to withstand
conditions that could cause a brittle fracture. Brittle fracture is
characterized by the lack of deformation or yielding in the
material prior to failure. When a brittle fracture occurs, there is
no leak or warning prior to complete failure of the component.
These failure characteristics of brittle fracture are in contrast to
the ductile type of failure that occurs when the material strength
is exceeded.

Brittle fracture occurs only when the following three conditions

occur simultaneously:
• The material has insufficient fracture toughness at the
temperature.
• There is sufficient stress in the component to cause a crack
to initiate and grow.
• There is a critical size defect in the component that can act
as a local stress concentration point and site for crack
initiation such as at a weld.
The brittle fracture occurs without warning the first time that the
component is exposed to the necessary combination of low
temperature, high stress, and critical size defect; therefore, it is
extremely important that material selection eliminate the
possibility of brittle fracture.
The fracture toughness of a material decreases as the material
temperature decreases. Tank material fracture toughness is a
minimum at the minimum temperature to which the tank will be
exposed. The design metal temperature is the minimum
temperature to which the tank will be exposed; therefore,
material fracture toughness considerations are pertinent to
ensure that tank components will not experience a brittle
fracture at temperatures that are as low as the design metal
temperature.
The design metal temperature of the tank is specified on the
Storage Tank Data Sheet (Appendix L of API-650 for
atmospheric tanks). Specification of the design metal
temperature ensures that brittle fracture and material fracture
toughness are properly considered in tank material selection.
Refer to API-650 in the Course Handout.

Determining Fracture
Toughness
The Charpy V-notch test (Cv) is commonly used to qualitatively

determine the fracture toughness of steel. The test consists of
performing an impact test on a notched specimen that is taken
from a specific location in the material, and then recording the
impact energy that is required to fracture the specimen at
various temperatures.
The magnitude of the measured impact energy, the shape of the
impact energy curve, and the appearance of the specimen
cross-section are significant factors in evaluating the material
fracture toughness. Figure 1 illustrates the typical shape of
impact energy transition curves for low- and high-strength
steels.
A - Low Strength Steel
Upper shelf
energy
Lower shelf (ductile)
energy (brittle)
B - High-Strength Steel
Low Temperature High
NDT for low-strength steels
NDT for high-strength steels
Figure 1. Typical Impact Energy Transition Curves

Factors that Influence

Fracture Toughness
The impact energy level at a given temperature varies with

different steels and with different manufacturing and fabrication
processes. Additional factors such as torch cutting, arc strikes,
and cold forming also affect brittle fracture behavior. Torch
cutting or beveling of plate edges may lead to hard and brittle
areas that make the edges more prone to cracking. Arc strikes
can cause a brittle fracture, especially if the strike is made over
a repaired area. Cold forming of thick plates may cause
fractures in areas that have local stress concentration points or
plate scratches.
The slope of the impact energy curve in Figure 1 indicates the
rate of change of the fracture toughness with temperature. The
“lower shelf" is the lower section of the impact energy curve,
and the "upper shelf" is the upper section. A material is very
brittle at lower shelf energy temperatures, and it can behave like
a piece of glass. Fracture at lower shelf energy temperatures is
very abrupt, as when a piece of glass is dropped. A material is
ductile at upper shelf energy temperatures. Fracture at upper
shelf energy occurs only after excessive yielding takes place.
Low-strength steels have a significant increase in fracture
toughness as the temperature increases, as shown in Curve A
of Figure 1. High-strength steels show only a slight increase in
fracture toughness as the temperature increases, as shown in
Curve B of Figure 1.
The dotted lines in Figure 1 show the nil ductility transition
(NDT) temperatures for both high- and low-strength steels. The
NDT temperatures are the starting points of the transitions
between brittle and ductile fractures. Material fracture is brittle in
nature at temperatures that are below the NDT temperature.
Material fracture is ductile in nature at temperatures that are
above the NDT temperature. The rate of change of fracture
toughness is significantly different between high-and low-
strength steels. The NDT is more important for low-strength
steel due to the much greater increase in fracture toughness
when going from low to high temperature.

Material selection must confirm that the material has adequate

fracture toughness at the lowest expected metal temperature.
The lowest one-day mean temperature for the site and the
lowest temperature to which the tank may be exposed during
any phase of its operation determine the lowest expected
temperature for which the tank must be designed. This lowest
temperature identification must also consider temperatures that
will occur during precommissioning, startup, shutdown, or
upsets.
The mechanical design of a storage tank must avoid either a
brittle fracture or a ductile fracture. However, because a brittle
fracture will occur without warning and can be catastrophic in
nature, it is especially important for material selection to
eliminate the risk of brittle fracture.
Material Selection
Tank materials are selected to provide the most economical
design that is suitable for the specified design conditions. This
materials selection considers both the material strength fracture
and toughness properties that were previously discussed.
Although several materials can be technically acceptable, the
ultimate choice of what materials to use is based on current
economic conditions, material availability, and Saudi Aramco's
desire to standardize on a relatively small number of materials.
Materials standardization simplifies storage requirements for
spare material, reduces spare material costs, and minimizes the
probability of using incorrect material during repair and
maintenance activities. As an example of the basis for material
selection, the use of a higher strength steel may reduce the
thickness that is required for shell sections, but the cost per
pound of the higher-strength steel may be so much higher than
the cost of a lower-strength material that it could result in a
higher overall cost for the tank. Generally speaking, an initial
material selection can be made based on strength
considerations. Then, shell wall thicknesses can be calculated,
and a check can then be made to confirm that the fracture
toughness of the selected material is acceptable for the
specified design metal temperature. Shell wall thicknesses are
normally kept to a maximum of 40 mm (1.5 in.) in order to avoid
the need for any special fabrication or heat treatment
considerations.

Normally, Saudi Aramco engineers do not select materials.

Saudi Aramco engineers usually review for acceptability the
materials selections that are made by a design contractor or a
tank supplier. The material selection process that a design
contractor or tank supplier uses may be divided into several
steps. These steps are based on the considerations that were
previously discussed. A design contractor or a storage tank
supplier can generally combine these steps because of his
experience. The steps in the material selection process are
explained below.
• Make an initial material selection for the tank primary
components (roof, shell, bottom) based on strength and
material standardization considerations. As a later section of
this module explains, API-650 contains a list of acceptable
material specifications. Typically, first select the highest
strength steel that is acceptable.
• Determine preliminary thicknesses for the primary tank
components. Procedures for this determination will be
discussed in MEX 203.03.
• Determine whether the selected materials have adequate
fracture toughness in the calculated thicknesses for the
required design metal temperature of the tank. As previously
discussed, fracture toughness becomes a more significant
consideration as the design metal temperature of the tank
decreases.
• Change the selected materials as needed, based on their
fracture toughness. Recalculate the component thicknesses
based on the new materials used. Also determine if the
thicknesses should be reduced by using stronger material to
minimize fabrication difficulties.
• Review the cost and availability of the selected materials,
and adjust the material selections as appropriate.
The final materials selections are specified on the Storage Tank
Data Sheet (Appendix L of API-650).

SPECIFYING MATERIAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO THE PRIMARY

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF STORAGE TANKS
This section discusses the material standards that apply to the
primary structural components of storage tanks. These material
standards, along with additional material requirements, are
specified in the following:
• SAES-D-100
• 32-SAMSS-005
• SAES-W-017
• API-650
Table 1 summarizes the locations within these documents that
contain material selection information.
Engineering Document Location of Material Selection Information
SAES-D-100 Section 7
32-SAMSS-005 Section 2.0
SAES-W-017
API-650 Section 2, Appendix N
Table 1. Location of Materials Selection Information
The sections that follow briefly discuss several material

selection requirements that are contained within each of these
documents. Participants are referred for additional information
to the copies of these documents that are in Course Handouts 1
and 2. Work Aid 1 contains a procedure that may be used to
review a Contractor Design Package for acceptability, based on
material selection considerations.

SAES-D-100
SAES-D-100, Atmospheric and Low-Pressure Tanks, specifies
several factors that affect material selection for storage tanks.
These factors include reference to specific materials
specifications and design parameters that are required in order
to permit correct material specification. Several of these factors
are discussed in the paragraphs that follow.
• The minimum design metal temperature is 0°C (32°F) for
tanks that are located in the Eastern Province. Tanks that
are located in the Western Province have a minimum design
metal temperature of 10°C (50°F). The minimum design
metal temperature for other locations must be determined.
The minimum design metal temperature must always be
specified on the Tank Data Sheet.
As previously discussed, the minimum design metal
temperature is a parameter that affects the fracture
toughness of a material. Therefore, the proper selection of
shell plate material based on fracture toughness
considerations requires that this temperature be specified. A
later section in this module discusses API-650 fracture
toughness requirements that relate to the minimum design
metal temperature.
• The annular bottom plate must have the same material
specification and grade as that of the lowest shell course.
The annular bottom plate (or annular ring) is a specially
designed portion of the tank bottom that is located directly
under the tank shell. This plate is a very critical area of the
tank because it experiences a complex combination of loads
and stresses. A failure in this area can result in a significant
spill of the stored liquid. Use of the same material
specification for both the annular bottom plate and the lowest
shell course ensures that both the annular bottom plate and
the lowest shell course have the same strength, fracture
toughness properties, and load-carrying capacity.
• SAES-D-100 specifies corrosion allowance requirements for
new storage tanks, as summarized in Table 2.

Stored Liquid Corrosion Allowance Requirements
Petroleum Products or Crude Oil None unless specified by the proponent

Department based on experience with other
tanks that store the same liquid.
Water 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) for shell plates if no internal
cathodic protection system is installed
None for roof and bottom plates
1.6 mm (1/16 in.) added to thickness of roof
support structures (columns, rafters, girders)
Table 2. SAES-D-100 Corrosion Allowance Requirements
Note that atmospheric storage tanks that store petroleum

products do not require a corrosion allowance. Saudi Aramco's
philosophy for these applications is that it is preferable to reduce
the initial cost of the tank by not using a corrosion allowance
because these services are not very corrosive. Any corrosion
that does occur will normally be localized, and it can be
evaluated on an individual basis as part of the tank maintenance
program. MEX 203.08 discusses the evaluation of corrosion in
existing storage tanks.

Water service is known to cause corrosion of tank components;

therefore, corrosion allowances are specified. A corrosion
allowance is not specified for either the bottom or the roof
because the thicknesses of these tank components are not
based on stress considerations. Any corrosion that occurs in the
bottom or the roof will be evaluated as a part of the tank
maintenance program.
32-SAMSS-005
32-SAMSS-005, Atmospheric Storage Tanks, states that
materials must comply with API-650 requirements, but it does
allow the vendor to propose the use of alternative materials for
consideration by Saudi Aramco. For example, it may be
advantageous to use a German or Japanese plate material for
particular cases due to its technical properties, availability, or
cost. When materials that are not listed in API-650 are
proposed, the material must at least comply with a recognized
national standard material specification. If the proposed material
specification is not ASTM, the chemical and mechanical
properties of the material must be furnished by the vendor for
evaluation by Saudi Aramco. Saudi Aramco must approve the
use of any material that is not specified in API-650. The use of
materials that are listed in API-650 results in an established
level of material quality, but Saudi Aramco does not want to
eliminate the potential for the use of other materials. The review
and approval process that is specified ensures that material
quality that is equivalent to that of API-650 materials will be
achieved.
32-SAMSS-005 does not permit the use of rimmed steels or
capped steels for the roof, bottom, and shell plates. Rimmed
steels or capped steels may only be used for tank components
that are not highly stressed. These types of steel do not have
uniform material chemistries and properties throughout the
component, and they should not be used for components that
are critical to the structural integrity of the tank.

SAES-W-017
SAES-W-017, Welding Requirements for Tanks, specifies
general welding requirements that are applicable to storage
tanks. Welding requirements are affected by the materials that
are used in the storage tank. For example, the material that is
used for the welding electrode, the specific procedure that is
used to make the welds, and some of the weld inspection
requirements are all affected by the specified construction
material.
API-650
API Standard 650, Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage, covers
material, design, fabrication, erection, and testing requirements
for vertical, cylindrical, aboveground, closed- and open-top,
welded steel storage tanks for internal pressures that
approximate atmospheric pressure. The specific pressure and
temperature limits of API-650 were discussed in MEX 203.01.
Section 2 of API-650 specifies acceptable material
specifications that may be used for tank construction, and it
covers the following material categories:
• Plates
• Sheets
• Structural shapes
• Piping and forgings
• Flanges
• Bolting
• Welding electrodes
Section 2 also specifies special manufacturing and testing
requirements and any limitations that apply to the materials.

Strength
Considerations
Table 3-2 of API-650 lists the plate materials that may be used
for the shell, roof, and bottom of the tank. Table 3 contains part
of Table 3-2. Note in Table 3 that the minimum yield strength
and the minimum tensile strength are listed for each of the
acceptable material specifications. Table 3-2 (Table 3) also
specifies the Product Design Stress Sd and Hydrostatic Test
Stress St for each of the acceptable material specifications.
These two stress values are the allowable stresses that are
used for the calculation of the required thickness of the tank
shell. These allowable stresses account for the required safety
factor between allowable stress and material strength. The
concepts of material strength, safety factor, and allowable stress
were previously discussed. MEX 203.03 discusses the use of
these two allowable stress values in the calculation of tank shell
thickness; however, recall from CSE 110 that the required shell
plate thickness decreases as the material allowable stress
increases.
As an example of the application of this table, assume that a
Contractor Design Package specifies that the tank shell is
fabricated from A 516 Grade 60 plate. Table 3 contains the
following information for A 516 Grade 60 plate:
• Minimum Yield Strength 32,000 psi
• Minimum Tensile Strength 60,000 psi
• Product Design Stress Sd 21,300 psi
• Hydrostatic Test Stress 24,000 psi

Minimum Minimum Product Hydrostatic

Plate Grade Yield Tensile Design Test
Specification
Strength Strength Stress Sd Stress St
ASTM Specifications
A 283 C 30,000 55,000 20,000 22,500
A 285 C 30,000 55,000 20,000 22,500
A 131 A, B, CS 34,000 58,000 22,700 24,900
A 36 36,000 58,000 23,200 24,900
A 131 EH 36 51,000 71,0002 28,400 30,400
A 442 55 30,000 55,000 20,000 22,500
A 442 60 32,000 60,000 21,300 24,000
A 573 58 32,000 58,000 21,300 24,000
A 573 65 35,000 65,000 23,300 26,300
2
A 573 70 42,000 70,000 28,000 30,000
A 516 55 30,000 55,000 20,000 22,500
A 516 60 32,000 60,000 21,300 24,000
A 516 65 35,000 65,000 23,300 26,300
A 516 70 38,000 70,000 25,300 28,500
A 662 B 40,000 65,000 26,000 27,900
A 662 C 43,000 70,0002 28,000 30,000
A 537 1 50,000 70,0002 28,000 30,000
A 537 2 60,000 80,0002 32,000 34,300
A 633 C, D 50,000 70,0002 28,000 30,000
A 678 A 50,000 70,0002 28,000 30,000
A 678 B 60,000 80,0002 32,000 34,300
A 737 B 50,000 70,0002 28,000 30,000
Source: API Standard 650, Ninth Edition, Washington, D.C., American Petroleum Institute, July 1993, p.3-7.
Table 3. Permissible Plate Materials and Allowable Stresses
Fracture Toughness
Considerations
API-650 places each of the acceptable material specifications

into one of eight different Material Groups, based on their
fracture toughness properties. The Material Groups are
specified in Table 2-3 of API-650. Table 3 contains part of Table
2-3.

Group IAs Rolled, Group II As Rolled Group III As Rolled, Group IIIA Normalized,
Semikilled Killed or Semikilled Killed Fine-Grain Killed Fine-Grain
Practice Practice
Material Notes Material Notes Material Notes Material Notes
A 283 C 2 A 131 B 7 A 573-58 A 131 CS
A 285 C 2 A 36 2, 6 A 516-55 A 573-58 10
A 131 A 2 A 442-55 A 516-60 A 516-55 10
A 36 2, 3 A 442-60 G40.21M-260W 9 A 516-60 10
Fe 42 B 4 G40.21M-260W Fe 42 D 4, 9 G40.21M-260W 9, 10
Grade 37 3, 5 Fe 42 C 4 Grade 41 5, 9 Fe 42 D 4, 9, 10
Grade 41 6 Grade 41 5, 8 Grade 41 5, 9, 10
Group IV As Rolled, Group IVA As Rolled, Group V Normalized, Group VI Normalized or
Killed Fine-Grain Killed Fine-Grain Killed Fine-Grain Quenched and
Practice Practice Practice Tempered, Killed Fine-
Grain Practice Reduced
Carbon
Material Notes Material Notes Material Notes Material Notes
A 573-65 A 662 C A 573-70 10 A 131 EH 36
A 573-70 A 573-70 11 A 516-65 10 A 633 C
A 516-65 G40.21M-300W 9, 11 A 516-70 10 A 633 D
A 516-70 G40.21M-350W 9, 11 G40.21M-300W 9, 10 A 537 I
A 662 B G40.21M-350W 9, 10 A 537 II
G40.21M-300W 9 A 678 A
G40.21M-350W 9 A 678 B
Fe 44 B, C, D 4, 9 A 737 B
Fe 52 C, D 9
Grade 44 5, 9
Table 4. API-650 Material Groups
Note in Table 4 that the A516 Grade 60 material that was used
in the previous example appears in both Group III and Group
IIIA. The difference between these two Material Groups is that
the materials that are in Group IIIA must be normalized during
the steel-making process, but the materials that are in Group III
are supplied in the as-rolled condition. Normalizing is a heat-
treating process, and it can be done as an option after the plate
has been rolled to its final thickness. Normalizing enhances the
fracture toughness properties of the steel. If the A516 Grade 60
material must have the better fracture toughness properties of
Group IIIA material, the material must be ordered in the
normalized condition. The Contractor Design Package must
clearly specify any special steel-making requirements that are
needed for the specified materials.

Figure 2-1 of API-650 specifies the minimum acceptable design

metal temperature at which a plate material may be used in the
following tank components without being impact tested prior to
fabrication of those components:
• Shell
• Shell reinforcing plates or insert plates
• Bottom plates that are welded to the shell
• Plates that are used for nozzle or manhole necks
• Flanges that are made from plate
This minimum temperature is based on the Material Group of
the plate material and the thickness of the plate. Figure 6
contains part of Figure 2-1. API-650 does not require that the
material be impact-tested for situations that satisfy the criteria
that are contained in Figure 2-1 (Figure 2). There is sufficient
experience that shows that the material has acceptable fracture
toughness if it satisfies the Figure 2-1 criteria.

Figure 2. Minimum Permissible Design Metal Temperature
If the A516 Grade 60 material of the earlier examples is

supplied in the normalized condition, it is a Group IIIA material.
A Group IIIA material may be used at a design metal
temperature that is as low as -22°C (-40°F) without being impact
tested, regardless of its thickness. If the A516 Grade 60 material
is not normalized, it is a Group III material. The minimum design
metal temperature of a Group III material that is not impact
tested varies with its thickness. For example, if the plate
thickness is 25 mm (1 in.), it may only be used down to a
temperature of -6°C (-10°F).

If the specified material is not exempt from impact testing, two

choices are available. Either the material must be impact-tested
at the specified design metal temperature or a different material
specification that does not require impact testing must be used.
The choice of which approach to take is based on experience.
This experience must consider whether the specified material
will pass the impact testing and how much changing to a better
material will cost. Materials engineers in the Consulting Services
Department can help in this determination. It should also be
noted that all controlled rolled plates must be impact-tested
regardless of thickness or design metal temperature. The
impact testing of controlled rolled plates ensures that they have
acceptable fracture toughness even in the nonpreferred rolling
direction.
The previous discussion clearly illustrates the following points:
• There is an interaction among material specification, fracture
toughness, and material strength.
• The material specification of the shell plate establishes both
its fracture toughness properties and its strength properties.
• Any change that is made to a material specification in the
interest of changing plate thickness must also lead to the
consideration of the potential impact of this change on
minimum acceptable design metal temperature.
The design metal temperature and the shell plate thicknesses
must be specified in the Contractor Design Package on either
Drawing 2696 or in the Storage Tank Data Sheet. API-650
requires that the design metal temperature for a tank be no
higher than 8°C (15°F) above the lowest one-day mean
temperature for the site, unless there is sufficient experience
that justifies the use of another assumption. As previously
noted, Saudi Aramco specifies this temperature based on tank
location.
API-650 also contains additional fracture toughness
requirements. These requirements include impact testing
procedures, minimum impact energy requirements, and fracture
toughness requirements for the tank structural components
other than the shell. Participants are referred for additional
information to the copy of API-650 that is in Course Handout 1.

SUMMARY
On the basis of the information that MEX 203.02 has provided,
the Participant should be able to describe the material
properties that must be considered in the selection of
appropriate materials for the structural components of storage
tanks. The Participant should also be able to specify the
specifications and requirements that determine whether
materials to be used for the primary structural components of a
storage tank are acceptable and to review the contents of a
Contractor Design Package to determine if the specified
materials are acceptable.
Now that materials for storage tanks have been selected, and it
has been determined whether these materials are acceptable,
the tank components may be designed. Mechanical design of
tank components is discussed in MEX 203.03.

WORK AID 1: MATERIAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO PRIMARY

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF STORAGE TANKS
The procedure that is contained in this Work Aid may be used to specify the materials
standards that apply to the primary structural components of storage tanks. This Work
Aid may also be used to review the acceptability of materials that are specified by a
storage tank supplier for specific tank components based on information that is
contained in a Contractor Design Package. Note that a copy of API-650 is contained in
Course Handout 1, and copies of SAES-D-100, 32-SAMSS-005, and SAES-W-001 are
contained in Course Handout 2.
Material selection requirements are specified in the following sections of the referenced
engineering documents:
• SAES-D-001 -- Section
• 32-SAMSS-005 -- Section 2.0
• SAES-W-017 --
• API-650 -- Section 2, Appendix N
Refer to these sections as needed in the application of the following procedure.
1. Identify the design metal temperature and maximum operating temperature for the
tank. These values are stated in the Contractor Design Package.
If the maximum operating temperature exceeds 93°C (200°F) but does not exceed
260°C (500°F), additional requirements that are contained in API-650, Appendix M
must be applied.
Confirm that the specified design metal temperature meets SAES-D-100,
Para. 6.1.3.
2. Identify the plate material specifications for the tank shell, roof, bottom and annular
plate that are specified in the Contractor Design Package. Note that different
materials may be used for each component, and that more than one material may
be used for the shell.
Component Material
Shell
Roof
Bottom
Annular Plate
Any Saudi Aramco materials standardization requirements that are currently in
effect should also be considered at this point.

3. Confirm that the material specifications that were identified in Step 2 are each
listed in Table 3-2 of API-650. Confirm that the annular plate material meets
SAES-D-100, Para. 5.2.
If any material specifications are not listed in API-650, confirm that they meet the
requirements of 32-SAMSS-005, Para. 2.2.1 and 2.2.5, and API-650, Para. 2.2.1
and 2.2.5.
4. For the shell material specifications that were identified in Step 2, determine the
applicable API-650 Material Group from Table 2-3 of API-650.
5. Identify the shell plate thicknesses that are specified in the Contractor Design
Package.
6. Refer to Figure 2-1 in API-650. Use the Material Groups that were identified in
Step 4, and the plate thicknesses that were identified in Step 5, to determine the
minimum permissible design metal temperature. This is at the intersection of the
wall thickness and Material Group lines.
The following table may be used to summarize the shell material information that
has been identified.
Shell Material Material Thickness, Permitted Design

Course Specification Group mm (in.) Metal Temperature,
°C (°F)

7. If the tank design metal temperature identified in Step 1 is less than the values that
are summarized in Step 6, the following options are available:
• Change the material specification of the unacceptable shell plate to one that is
in a Material Group with better fracture toughness (a lower group line in Figure
2-1). The required wall thickness must be recalculated for the new material,
and Steps 2 through 6 must be repeated.
• Impact-test the material at the specified minimum design metal temperature.
Confirm that its fracture toughness meets API-650 requirements at this
temperature.
The choice of which option is used depends on economics and the likelihood that
the material will pass the impact test requirements. This choice is based on
current market conditions and past experience with other impact test results.
8. Identify the tank service and the corrosion allowance that has been specified in the
Contractor Design Package. Confirm that the specified corrosion allowance meets
SAES-D-100, Para. 6.3.

GLOSSARY
allowable stress The limiting stress (maximum stress) that is specified in a

component’s design that includes an appropriate safety
factor.
API American Petroleum Institute
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
brittle fracture A sudden break that is not preceded by deformation or
yielding.
capped steel Capped steels have characteristics that are similar to
rimmed steel, but they have them to a degree that is
between the characteristics of rimmed and semi-killed steel.
A deoxidizing agent may be added to control rimming when
the ingot is cast.
Charpy V-notch test A qualitative test for determining the toughness of a steel.
cold forming A forming operation performed on unheated metal.
controlled rolled plate Plate with enhanced properties in a preferred rolling
direction.
creep The gradual continuous distortion of a material under
continued load, usually at high temperatures.
creep strength The stress that is required to cause continuous elongation
of a material that is subjected to elevated temperature.
CSA Canadian Standards Association
ductility The property of being permanently deformed by tension
without rupture; that is, the ability to be drawn from a large
to a small size.
fracture toughness The ability of a material to withstand conditions that could
cause a brittle fracture.
high-strength steel Steel having a specified minimum yield strength greater
than 296 MPa (43 000 psi) and a specified maximum
tensile strength equal to or less than 689 MPa (100 000
psi).
impact energy The energy required to fracture a material.
impact strength The ability of a material to absorb energy and deform
plastically prior to fracture.
impact test A procedure that is used to measure the impact energy of a
material at a specified temperature.

ISO International Organization for Standardization
low-strength steel Steel having a specified minimum yield strength equal to or

less than 296 MPa (43 000 psi) and a specified maximum
tensile strength equal to or less than 586 MPa (85 000 psi).
nil ductility transition The temperature below which a metal exhibits
temperature brittle rather than ductile failure in toughness
testing.
rimmed steel No deoxidizing agents are added in the furnace during the
production of rimmed steels. These steels are characterized
by marked differences in chemical composition across the
section and from the top to the bottom of the ingot.
rupture To break.
strain The change in dimensions of a material due to the
application of stress. Linear strain is the ratio of the change
in length to the original length.
strength The ability of a material to withstand an imposed force or
stress (referred to as load).
tensile strength The greatest stress that a metal can tolerate without
breaking apart. Calculated by dividing the maximum load by
the original cross-sectional area. Also known as ultimate
strength or ultimate tensile strength.
yield strength The stress that causes permanent deformation in a
material. It is usually defined as the stress required to
cause 0.2% offset strain.

Engineering Encyclopedia: Determining Acceptability of Materials For Storage Tanks

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Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Chapter : Mechanical For additional information on this subject, contact

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards i

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 2

EFFECT OF MATERIAL STRENGTH AND FRACTURE TOUGHNESS

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 3

The maximum operating temperature of the tank is specified on

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 4

Brittle fracture occurs only when the following three conditions

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 5

The Charpy V-notch test (Cv) is commonly used to qualitatively

A - Low Strength Steel

Low Temperature High

NDT for low-strength steels

NDT for high-strength steels

Figure 1. Typical Impact Energy Transition Curves

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 6

Factors that Influence

The impact energy level at a given temperature varies with

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Material selection must confirm that the material has adequate

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 8

Normally, Saudi Aramco engineers do not select materials.

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SPECIFYING MATERIAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO THE PRIMARY

Engineering Document Location of Material Selection Information

32-SAMSS-005 Section 2.0

API-650 Section 2, Appendix N

Table 1. Location of Materials Selection Information

The sections that follow briefly discuss several material

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 10

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 11

Stored Liquid Corrosion Allowance Requirements

Petroleum Products or Crude Oil None unless specified by the proponent

Table 2. SAES-D-100 Corrosion Allowance Requirements

Note that atmospheric storage tanks that store petroleum

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Water service is known to cause corrosion of tank components;

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Minimum Minimum Product Hydrostatic

Table 3. Permissible Plate Materials and Allowable Stresses

API-650 places each of the acceptable material specifications

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 16

Table 4. API-650 Material Groups

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 17

Figure 2-1 of API-650 specifies the minimum acceptable design

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 18

Figure 2. Minimum Permissible Design Metal Temperature

If the A516 Grade 60 material of the earlier examples is

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 19

If the specified material is not exempt from impact testing, two

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WORK AID 1: MATERIAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO PRIMARY

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 22

Shell Material Material Thickness, Permitted Design

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 23

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allowable stress The limiting stress (maximum stress) that is specified in a

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 25