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 : Vessels For additional information on this subject, contact

File Reference: MEX20302 J.H. Thomas on 875-2230
Engineering Encyclopedia Vessels
Determining Acceptability of Materials for Storage Tanks
CONTENTS PAGE
EFFECT OF MATERIAL STRENGTH AND FRACTURE TOUGHNESS PROPERTIES ON

MATERIAL SELECTION ............................................................................................................................. 1
Strength1
Fracture Toughness .......................................................................................................................... 2

Determining Fracture Toughness ........................................................................................ 3
Factors that Influence Fracture Toughness.......................................................................... 5
Material Selection............................................................................................................................. 6
SPECIFYING MATERIAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO THE PRIMARY STRUCTURAL

COMPONENTS OF STORAGE TANKS...................................................................................................... 8
SAES-D-100..................................................................................................................................... 9
32-SAMSS-005 .............................................................................................................................. 11
SAES-W-001.................................................................................................................................. 11
API-650 .......................................................................................................................................... 11
Strength Considerations .................................................................................................... 12
Fracture Toughness Considerations .................................................................................. 13
WORK AID 1: MATERIAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO PRIMARY STRUCTURAL

COMPONENTS OF STORAGE TANKS.................................................................................................... 18
GLOSSARY .......................................................................................................................................... 22
Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

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
COE 105 discussed the strength and fracture toughness properties of materials and how these properties are
considered in the selection of construction materials for process equipment. This section briefly reviews the
information that was discussed in COE 105, and it then applies this information 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.
Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 1

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 either the Storage Tank Design Specification Sheet
(Drawing 2696) or the Storage Tank Data Sheet (Appendix L of API-650). Specification of the design metal
temperature ensures that brittle fracture and material fracture toughness are properly considered in tank material
selection. Copies of Drawing 2696 and API-650 are in Course Handouts 3 and 1 respectively.
Determining Fracture Toughness

As discussed in COE 105, the Charpy V-notch test (C V) 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.

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 either the Storage Tank Design Specification Sheet (Drawing
2696) or 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-001
• API-650
Figure 2 summarizes the locations within these documents that contain material selection information.
Engineering Document Location of Material Selection Information
SAES-D-100 Paras. 5.1 through 5.3, 6.1.3, 6.3
32-SAMSS-005 Para. 2.0
SAES-W-001 Paras. 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 5.1, 5.3, 6.1
API-650 Section 2, Appendix M
Figure 2. 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.
• The use of a corrosion allowance in new equipment design was discussed in COE 105, and the
application of corrosion allowance to the mechanical design of storage tanks will be discussed
in MEX 203.03. SAES-D-100 specifies corrosion allowance requirements for new storage
tanks, as summarized in Figure 3.

Stored Liquid Corrosion Allowance Requirements
Petroleum Products 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)
6 mm (1/4 in.) minimum flange thickness of structural members
6 mm (1/4 in.) minimum thickness of pipe supports
All 3 mm (1/8 in.) added to the anchor bolt diameter
Figure 3. 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. This material restriction is not a
factor as long as materials that are listed in API-650 are used, or Saudi Aramco's approval procedures are
followed before any proposed alternate materials are used.
SAES-W-001
SAES-W-001, Basic Welding Requirements, specifies general welding requirements that are applicable to
piping and equipment, including 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. MEX 203.04 discusses tank fabrication, welding requirements, and SAES-W-001.
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.
Figure 4 contains part of Table 3-2. Note in Figure 4 that the minimum yield strength and the minimum tensile
strength are listed for each of the acceptable material specifications. Table 3-2 (Figure 4) 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. Figure 4 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 Yield Tensile Design Test
Specification Grade 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 Ñ 36,000 58,000 23,200 24,900
A 131 EH 36 51,000 71,000a 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
A 573 70 42,000 70,000a 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 70,000a 28,000 30,000
A 537 1 50,000 70,000a 28,000 30,000
A 537 2 60,000 80,000a 32,000 34,300
A 633 C, D 50,000 70,000a 28,000 30,000
A 678 A 50,000 70,000a 28,000 30,000
A 678 B 60,000 80,000a 32,000 34,300
A 737 B 50,000 70,000a 28,000 30,000
Source: API Standard 650 , Ninth Edition, Washington, D.C., American Petroleum Institute, July 1993, p.3-7.
Figure 4. 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. Figure 5
contains part of Table 2-3.

Group I Group II Group III Group IIIA

As Rolled, As Rolled As Rolled, Killed Normalized, Killed
Semikilled Killed or Semikilled Fine-Grain Practice Fine-Grain 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 VI
Normalized or
Quenched and
Group IV Group IVA Group V Tempered, Killed
As Rolled, Killed As Rolled, Killed Fine- Normalized, Killed Fine-Grain Practice
Fine-Grain Practice Grain Practice 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
Figure 5. API-650 Material Groups
Note in Figure 5 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 6). There is sufficient experience that shows that
the material has acceptable fracture toughness if it satisfies the Figure 2-1 (Figure 6) criteria.

Figure 6. 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.

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 - Paras. 5.1 through 5.3, 6.1.3. 6.3

• 32-SAMSS-005 - Para. 2.0
• SAES-W-001 - Paras. 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 5.1, 5.3, 6.1
• API-650 - Section 2, Appendix M
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, Paras. 2.2.1 and 2.2.5, and API-650, Paras. 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, mm Permitted Design Metal

Course Specification Group (in.) 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.
9. Confirm that the Contractor Design Package specifies SAES-W-001 as an applicable reference
standard, and that the requirements that are specified in Paras. 4 through 6 are met.

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 brittle rather than ductile
temperature 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 : Vessels For additional information on this subject, contact

EFFECT OF MATERIAL STRENGTH AND FRACTURE TOUGHNESS PROPERTIES ON

Fracture Toughness .......................................................................................................................... 2

SPECIFYING MATERIAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO THE PRIMARY STRUCTURAL

WORK AID 1: MATERIAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO PRIMARY STRUCTURAL

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

EFFECT OF material strength AND FRACTURE TOUGHNESS PROPERTIES

• Material strength and fracture toughness properties

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 1

• The material has insufficient fracture toughness at the temperature.

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 2

Determining Fracture Toughness

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 3

Figure 1. Typical Impact Energy Transition Curves

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Factors that Influence Fracture Toughness

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 5

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 6

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 7

SPECIFYING MATERIAL STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO THE PRIMARY

Engineering Document Location of Material Selection Information

SAES-D-100 Paras. 5.1 through 5.3, 6.1.3, 6.3

32-SAMSS-005 Para. 2.0

SAES-W-001 Paras. 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 5.1, 5.3, 6.1

API-650 Section 2, Appendix M

Figure 2. Location of Materials Selection

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 8

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 9

Stored Liquid Corrosion Allowance Requirements

None for roof and bottom plates

1.6 mm (1/16 in.) added to thickness of roof support structures (columns,

6 mm (1/4 in.) minimum flange thickness of structural members

6 mm (1/4 in.) minimum thickness of pipe supports

All 3 mm (1/8 in.) added to the anchor bolt diameter

Figure 3. SAES-D-100 Corrosion Allowance

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 10

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 11

• Minimum Yield Strength 32,000 psi

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Minimum Minimum Product Hydrostatic

Figure 4. Permissible Plate Materials and Allowable Stresses

Fracture Toughness Considerations

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Group I Group II Group III Group IIIA

Figure 5. API-650 Material Groups

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Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 15

Figure 6. Minimum Permissible Design Metal Temperature

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The previous discussion clearly illustrates the following points:

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WORK AID 1: material standards that apply to primary structural

• SAES-D-001 - Paras. 5.1 through 5.3, 6.1.3. 6.3

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 18

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 19

Shell Material Material Thickness, mm Permitted Design Metal

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Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards 21

API American Petroleum Institute

ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials