(NPT-TR-00005) FEA

Barrier Assessment for

Building 2mx4m UU
Storage Tank
Date: 26 Nov. 2019
Issue: 3

Table of Contents
Description ............................................ 1
Introduction .......................................... 2
Assumptions .......................................... 2
Results and Discussion .............................. 5
Conclusions ........................................... 5
Description
1.5mx2.0m Neptune Solution barrier system has been
FEA (Finite Element Analysis) tested under loading,
applied on the front face of the frame. The system is
tested under three loading scenarios; 100% loading
condition (1.5m water column height), 50% (0.75m water
column height) and 25% (0.375m water column height).
To ease this task, the 3D model of the barrier system
has been simplified, which could have an impact in some
shape or form on the results.

Issue Compiler Date Check Date Approved Date

1 Ali 23/11/2 Mike 26/11/2 Marshall 26/11/2
Albadri 019 Mulvihill 019 Reid 019

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Introduction

This FEA simulation analysis has been conducted as part of building 2m x 4m Rapid Response Tank,
RRT, for United Utilities, UU. It has to be emphasised that in this work, the system will be tested in
isolation, without including interactions of parameters such as; the total rigidity and resistance of the
ground, the friction forces between the main frame and the panels, the collective resistance of the
barriers as one unit wall, the resistance of the corner angles, and the resistance of the panels and
corner angles when they are partially buried into the ground.

Assumptions

As it has been mentioned in the previous section, the Neptune Solutions has been tested in an
isolation scenario, therefore the results which will be obtained from this analysis will be pessimistic
because they will represent the worst-case scenario for the frame.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the three scenarios, under which the system has been tested. The overall
loadings and constrains conditions can be listed as follows;

1. The system has been tested under 100% loading conditions (full 1.5m water column), 50% and
25%. This implies that the full force is 33108N for 100% loading, 15554N for 50% loading, and
8277N for 25% loading, applied on the panel of the system, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
2. The above forces are calculated from using the basic equation; Force = Ꝭgh.(h/2).(b*h). Ꝭ =
density of water =1.25kg/m3, h= 1.5m, g = gravity acceleration, b =2m.
3. The system is made from Galvanised Steel, while the front panels are made from Plain Carbon
Steel, both with yield point of 352MPa and Ultimate stress of 420MPa.
4. It will be assumed that the augers are locked up into the ground at 250mm depth. The total
length of the augers is 1.0m
5. The friction resistance between the panels and the system has been ignored.
6. The ground embedment of the panels and the corners into the ground will be ignored.
7. The contribution of the corner angles strength to the rigidity of the tank will be ignored.

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Figure 1a Shows the front of the Neptune Solutions system, 100% loaded and locked into the
ground.

Figure 1b Shows the back of the Neptune Solutions system, 100% loaded and locked into the
ground.
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Figure 2 Shows the front of the Neptune Solutions system, 50% loaded and locked into the ground.

Figure 3 Shows the front of the Neptune Solutions system, 25% loaded and locked into the ground.

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Results and Discussion

The system under 100% Loading

Figure 4 suggests that high stress level can be seen in in different locations in the system, it is in the
region of 290MPa. The average stress is in region of 250MPa. The analysis suggests that when the
system is analysed in isolation, it will be under significant stress, close to the yield point of the
material, when the yield point of the materials is around 352MPa. However, as was mentioned in the
assumptions section, in real life the system will interact with other environmental and mechanical
elements around it, which will give it higher resistance to the loading than when the system is working
on its own.

Figure 5 shows the highest deflection is in the middle of the panels. It is in the region of 20mm.

Figure 6 suggests that in some locations, the system will have low factor of safety, less than 1, while
the average factor of safety is 1.4.

The system under 50% Loading

Figure 7 illustrates the highest stress level in the system is 90MPa, while the average value is about
80MPa. The maximum deflection in the system is 6mm, as shown in Figure 8, and the lowest factor of
safety is 4, as shown in Figure 9.

The system under 25% Loading

The highest stress level is around 50MPa, as shown in Figure 10. The maximum deflection is 2mm,
and the lowest factor of safety is between 4-5.

Conclusions

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The Neptune Solutions system has shown good strength, deflection and factor of safety, except at the
highest loading scenario. Weaknesses started to develop in the system when the highest loading
scenario is applied. Simplifying the system to ease the simulation analysis does not help in showing
the true strength of the system, because in real life, the system operates with other elements
connected to it. All of them play their significant part in resisting the loading. Unfortunately, such
effects cannot be represented accurately in the analysis.

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Figure 4a Shows the stress distribution in the system under 100% loading.

Figure 4b Shows the stress distribution in the system under 100% loading.

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Figure 4c Shows the stress distribution in the system under 100% loading.

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Figure 5a Shows the deflection distribution in the system under 100% loading.

Figure 5b Shows the deflection distribution in the system under 100% loading.

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Figure 6a Shows the factor of safety distribution in the system under 100% loading.

Figure 6b Shows the factor of safety distribution in the system under 100% loading.

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Figure 6c Shows the factor of safety distribution in the system under 100% loading.

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Figure 7a Shows the stress distribution in the system under 50% loading.

Figure 7b Shows the stress distribution in the system under 50% loading.

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Figure 7c Shows the stress distribution in the system under 50% loading.

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Figure 8a Shows the deflection distribution in the system under 50% loading.

Figure 8b Shows the deflection distribution in the system under 50% loading.

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Figure 9a Shows the factor of safety distribution in the system under 50% loading.

Figure 9b Shows the factor of safety distribution in the system under 50% loading.

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Figure 9c Shows the factor of safety distribution in the system under 50% loading.

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Figure 10a Shows the stress distribution in the system under 25% loading.

Figure 10b Shows the stress distribution in the system under 25% loading.

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Figure 10c Shows the stress distribution in the system under 25% loading.

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Figure 11a Shows the deflection distribution in the system under 25% loading.

Figure 11b Shows the deflection distribution in the system under 25% loading.

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Figure 12a Shows the factor of safety distribution in the system under 25% loading.

Figure 12b Shows the factor of safety distribution in the system under 25% loading.

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Figure 12c Shows the factor of safety distribution in the system under 25% loading.

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