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Now you will follow the following steps to start the foundation load calculation
and design:
You need to review Vessel drawings from foundation design point of view and
check whether you have all the following information:
You need to review Plot plan, Equipment location drawings and 3 -D Models
and check whether you have all the following information:
Vessel Erection weight (De1): The erection weight is the fabricated weight of the
vessel, plus internals, platforms, etc., that are actually erected with the vessel. Data
from Equipment drawing.
Vessel Empty weight (De2): The empty weight is the in-place weight of the completed
vessel, including the fabricated weight of the vessel, plus the weight of internals, piping,
insulation, and platforms, but excluding the weight of fluids or products which will be
contained in the vessel during operation. Data from Equipment drawings.
Vessel Operating weight (Do): Vessel Empty weight (De2) + Weight of Fluid
inside the vessel. Data from Equipment drawings.
Vessel Hydrotest weight (Dt): Vessel Empty weight (De2) + Weight of test
water
Wind Shear and Moment: You will find this load data in vendor drawings.
However, you have to calculate this load based on project design basis. During
wind load calculation, you need to consider the pipes and platforms attached
with the vessel. Compare both the data (vendor load data and your calculated
data) and apply the critical one for foundation design.
Seismic Shear and Moment (if the Project site is at Seismic zone): You will find
this load data in vendor drawings. However, you have to calculate this load
based on project design basis. During seismic load calculation, you need to
consider the pipes and platforms attached with the vessel. Compare both the
data (vendor load data and your calculated data) and apply critical one for
foundation design.
It is desirable to make the pedestal deep enough to contain the anchor bolts
and keep them out of the mat.
Tension Check:
The maximum tension force in the anchor bolts (Tmax) may be calculated
according with following formula:
Shear Check:
When anchor bolts are utilized to resist shear, the unit shear per bolt shall be
calculated as follows:
When oversized anchor bolt holes are provided in the vessel base plates or
when anchor bolt sleeves that are not grout-filled are used, anchor bolts should
be designed to resist tension only.
Frictional resistance to shear between the vessel base plate and the concrete or
grouted bearing surface shall be utilized to resist shears induced by wind or by
other static loads. Frictional resistance shall not be employed to resist shear
induced by seismic loads. For seismic-induced shear, adequate mechanical
means shall be provided to resist horizontal shear, either by means of properly
detailed anchor bolt / bolt hole arrangements or through a combination of
anchor bolts, shear lugs, or other anchorage devices. The static coefficient of
friction between steel and concrete or between steel and cementitious grout
shall be considered as 0.4 or specified in project design criteria.
When anchor bolts are subjected to combined shear and tension loads, the
design shall be based on satisfying interaction formula (say Appendix-d of ACI
318).
Please note that anchor bolt edge distance, spacing and load capacity shall
be as per project design criteria.
You need to create the load combination per your project design criteria.
However, I have created this load combination based on ACI 318:
Load combination for Foundation sizing and Pile load calculation (un-factored
load calculation):
LC1: Do + Dp
LC2: (De1 or De2) + Wind
LC3: De2 + Seismic
LC4: Do + Dp + Wind
LC5: Do + Dp + Seismic
LC6: Dt + 025*Wind
The weight of the foundation and of the soil on top of the foundation shall be
included as dead load in all of these load combinations.
Question from visitor: What is the reference of anchor bolt tension calculation
formula?
Answer from Subhro: Refer "ASCE task committee on anchor bolt design" clause
#3.5.1.1 - vessel anchor bolt design.
Question from visitor: How do I calculate the wind load on vertical vessel?
Answer from Subhro: Refer "Wind load and anchor bolts design for petrochemical
facility by ASCE"
I hope this page will be very helpful to you to understand the basic foundation
loads of a Vertical Vessel / Tower.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Please do not print or copy of this page or any
part of this page without written permission from Subhro Roy.
Disclaimer: This page is prepared based on experience on Civil Engineering Design.
All definitions and most of the explanations are taken from different text books and
international design codes, which are referenced in the contents. Any similarity of the
content or part of with any company document is simply a coincidence. Subhro Roy is
not responsible for that.