Abstract

Reinforced concrete water tanks are constructed for storing water. The design of
reinforced concrete water tank is based on IS 3370: 2009. The design depends on
the location of tanks, i.e. overhead, on ground or underground water tanks. The
tanks can be made in different shapes usually circular and rectangular shapes are
mostly used. The tanks can be made of reinforced concrete or even of steel. The
overhead tanks (elevated tanks) are usually elevated from the rooftop through
column. In the other hand the underground tanks are rested on the foundation. In
this article, Design requirements of reinforced concrete water tanks are discussed.

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 Introduction

Reinforced concrete water tanks are constructed to store water. The design of a
reinforced concrete water tank is based on the code of practice for concrete
structures to store liquids, and the design depends on the location of the tanks, i.e.
overhead, underground or underground tanks. This article is an application of the
optimization method on the structural design of `concrete rectangular and circular
water tanks, taking into account the total cost of the tank as an objective function
with the characteristics of the tank represented in the tank capacity, width and
length in the rectangle, the depth of the water in a circle, the unit weight of water
and the thickness of the tank floor slab, as design variables.

The results showed that the tank capacity consumed the lowest total cost for the
rectangular tank and was taken for the circular tank. The thickness of the tank floor
slab takes the minimum total cost of two types of tanks, so that the weight of a unit
of water in the tank takes the minimum total cost of the circular tank and is
lowered to the rectangular tank. Cabinets can also be made in different shapes and
usually round and rectangular shapes are mostly used. Tanks can be made of
reinforced concrete or even reinforced iron and steel.

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Usually upper cabinets (raised cabinets) are raised from the roof through the shaft.
On the other hand, underground tanks are placed on the foundation. In this article,
the design requirements of reinforced concrete water tanks will be discussed.
Reinforced concrete overhead water tanks are widely used to provide safe drinking
water. Most of the water supply systems in developing countries, such as India,
where urbanization is increasing day by day are also dependent on overhead
storage tanks, hence there is a need to build more water tanks.

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Why concrete?

Concrete is particularly suited for this application because it will not warp or
undergo change in dimensions When properly designed and placed it is nearly
impermeable and extremely resistant to corrosion Has good resistance to natural
and processing chemicals Economical but requires significant quality control.

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Why concrete?

Concrete is particularly suited for this application because it will not warp or
undergo change in dimensions When properly designed and placed it is nearly
impermeable and extremely resistant to corrosion Has good resistance to natural
and processing chemicals Economical but requires significant quality control.

What type of structure?

Our focus will be conventionally reinforced cast-in-place or precast concrete

structures

Basically rectangular and/or circular tanks

No restressed tanks

What are the objectives of the design?

The structure must be designed such that it is watertight, with minimum leakage or
loss of contained volume. The structure must be durable – it must last for several
years without undergoing deterioration.

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 Types of Tanks

Based on Placement of Tank

1-Tanks resting on ground.

2-Underground tanks.

3-Elevated tanks.

Based on Shape of Tank

1-Circular (For bigger capacities we go for circular tanks).

2-Rectangular (For smaller capacities we go for rectangular tanks).

3-Spherical.

4-Intze (constructed to reduce the project cost because lower dome in this
construction resists horizontal thrust).

5- Conical Bottom.

Based on Construction Materials

1-Wood.

2-Reinforced Concrete (Non-restressed).

3-Prestressed Concrete (For bigger tanks, restressing is the superior choice

resulting in a saving of up to 20%).

4-Steel (for crude oil, petroleum products and similar liquids).

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 5-Galvanized Steel (for water).

Basis of concrete water tank design

RCC water tank design should be based on sufficient resistance to cracking to

avoid leakage and adequate strength. For achieving these following assumptions
are made:

 Plain section before bending remains plain after bending

 Both concrete and steel are perfectly elastic and modular ratio value has a
value given in IS 456- Table.
 In calculation of stresses. Both for flexural and direct tension or combination
thereof relating to resistance to cracking, the entire section of concrete including
the cover together with reinforcement can be taken into consideration provided
that tensile stress in concrete limited to values provided in Table.
 Neglect concrete tensile strength during strength calculation.

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What are the objectives of the design?

The structure must be designed such that it is watertight, with minimum leakage or
loss of contained volume. The structure must be durable – it must last for several
years without undergoing deterioration.

Concrete Tank Construction: How it Works

Ever wondered about the concrete tank construction process – and how

professional companies go about it? Of course, there’s a huge amount of site
preparation involved; it’s the very first step when it comes to installation.
The tank itself can be constructed above or below ground and the base of the tank
needs to be flat. Preferably it should be laser-levelled, with around 150 ml of
compacted road base, no fill.

In terms of weight, a concrete fire tank is pretty hefty and the foundation on which
it will stand needs to be of a uniform thickness.

The ground must be capable, therefore, of bearing a pressure of 100 kPa, with no
fill. There also needs to be plenty of room around the base of the tank; this is for
laying out the formwork and eventually building up the scaffolding.

Vehicles – like the concrete mix truck to be used in the safe and effective
construction of your concrete fire tank – will also need to gain easy access.

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What are the requirements for the design of a reinforced concrete water tank?

Reinforced concrete water tanks are constructed to store water. The design of a
reinforced concrete water tank is based on the code of practice for concrete
structures to store liquids, and the design depends on the location of the tanks, i.e.
overhead, underground or underground tanks. This article is an application of the
optimization method on the structural design of concrete rectangular and circular
water tanks, taking into account the total cost of the tank as an objective function
with the characteristics of the tank represented in the tank capacity, width and
length in the rectangle, the depth of the water in a circle, the unit weight of water
and the thickness of the tank floor slab, as design variablesBasis of concrete water
tank design:

The normal section before bending remains flat after bending.

Concrete and steel both have complete flexibility, and the standard ratio
value has a value given in the Code of Practice for ordinary concrete and
reinforced concrete.

When calculating the stresses, for both flexural and direct tensile or a
combination of both with respect to cracking resistance, the entire section of
concrete including covering with reinforcement may be taken into account
provided that it is limited to the tensile stress in concrete.

Neglecting the tensile strength of concrete when calculating the strength.

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Reinforced concrete water tank roof:

To avoid the possibility of sympathetic cracking, it is important to ensure that the

movement joints in the ceiling correspond to those in the walls, if the ceiling and
walls are monolithic. However, this is provided by a sliding joint for movement
between the ceiling and the wall, and the correspondence of the joints is not so
important. Moreover, in the case of tanks intended for storing water for domestic
purposes, the roof must be watertight. This can be achieved by reducing pressures
as for the rest of the tank, by using a waterproof membrane covering or by
providing ramps to ensure proper drainage.

Minimum reinforcement for reinforced concrete water tank:

The minimum reinforcement required for sections with a thickness of 199 mm is

0.3% of the concrete section area, which is linearly reduced to 0.2% for sections
with a thickness of 450 mm. Moreover, in the case of a floor slab of a tank resting
on the ground, the minimum reinforcement of practical considerations shall not be
less than 0.3% of the total sectional area of the floor slab. Finally, if the thickness
of the section (wall, floor or roof slab of tank) is 225 mm and above two layers of
steel reinforcement, one layer should be placed near each section to make up for
the minimum reinforcement requirement.

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Disadvantages of reinforced concrete

Reinforced concrete structures are expensive.

Heavy weight concrete structures.
Reinforced concrete structures are difficult to modify or change after
hardening.
Accidents that affect these facilities are fatal and violent.

Advantages of reinforced concrete

Flexibility to use (easy to shape).

Concrete structures do not require any maintenance.
Prefabricated elements can be accomplished with reinforced concrete.
Reinforced concrete resists sudden efforts.
Reinforced concrete has poor heat transfer, which makes it very resistant to
fire.

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