2007 ASCE Standard for Seismic

Design of Petrochemical Facilities

Seismic Design of Coker
Structures using ASCE 7-05

D. S. (Stan) Martin P.E.

Bechtel Corporation
Oil, Gas, and Chemicals Global Business Unit
Seismic Design of Coker Structures

• Growth trend in U.S. and worldwide for Coker

projects due to shifting crude oil supply patterns
• Refineries are processing more high sulfur/ low
quality crude oil
• Delayed Coking process converts the heavy
“bottom of the barrel” components into solid
coal-like fuel
• Coke is used for Power Generation, Cement
production (Kiln fuel), Exports
 Seismic Design of Coker Structures
• Bechtel Corporation has been active in recent
growth of Delayed Coking
• Entered Alliance with Conoco in 1994 as
exclusive agent for marketing and licensing its
process technology for delayed coking
• Recent projects in which seismic loading
controlled design of the coker structure
Client Location Code Seismic Criteria
Conoco_Phillips Borger, TX ASCE 7-98 SDC B
PetroCanada Edmonton, NBC (Canada) 1995 Zone 1
Alberta, Canada

HOVENSA St. Croix, USVI UBC-97 Zone 4

Conoco Billings, MT UBC-88 Zone 2B
Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Steel Drilling Structure

Coke Drums
(in Pairs)

Concrete Table-Top

Foundation Mat / Pit

 Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Coke Drums
Diameter: 23’-6”
Base Ring to Upper Seam: 80’-0”
Operating Wt (Pair): 4112 kips
% of Seismic Mass: 19.5%

Table-Top Structure
6 Columns w. 8’-0”x 8’-0” Cross Section
El 77’-0” Column Grid: 1 N-S Bay @ 37’-0”
2 E-W Bays @36’-0”
El 57’-9” Top Level: 7’-0” Thick Slab
Intermediate Level: 4’-0” Thick Slab with 8’ wide x
El 27’-0” 7’ deep beams on Col lines
Lower Level: 8’wide x 7’ deep beams on Col lines
El 0’-0” Self Wt: 14213 kips
% of Seismic Mass: 67%

EXAMPLE PROBLEM FOR UPDATED ASCE SEISMIC

GUIDELINES FOR PETROCHEMICAL FACILITIES
Seismic Design of Coker Structures

Seismic Design Criteria for Example

• Site Class C (Assumed Soil Properties, Chap 20)
• SDS (0.2 sec) = .51g (Section 11.4)
• SD1 (1.0 sec) = .20g (Section 11.4)
• Occupancy Category III (Table 1.1)
• Importance Factor 1.25 (Table11.5.1)
• Seismic Design Category D (Tables 11.6-1 &
11.6.2)
Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Seismic Analysis and Design
Step 1 - Determine the Fundamental Period of the Structural System
• Coupled Model, Fixed Base
• Concrete Sections Cracked
• Drums Modeled as Linear Elements
• Steel Modeled as Weight at Support Points

TN-S: 0.74 seconds

TE-W: 0.69 seconds
Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Seismic Analysis and Design
Step 2 – Select the Analysis Procedure
• Permitted Analytical Procedures listed in Table 12.6-1
• Period less than 3.5 Ts (1.37 sec)
• Coker Table Top contains Vertical Stiffness (Type 1) and Mass (Type 2) Irregularities as defined in Table 12.3.2

Equivalent Lateral Force Analysis is not

permitted.
Modal Response Spectrum Analysis is
chosen
Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Seismic Analysis and Design
Step 3 – Develop the Design Response Spectrum
(Section 11.4.5)

Coker Example Response Spectrum

0.60
0.50
0.40
Acceleration (g)

0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00
Seconds
Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Seismic Analysis and Design
Step 4 – Prepare the Analytical Model (Sections 12.7
and 15.3)
 Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Seismic Analysis and Design
Step 5 – Process the Dynamic Model
Mode No. Freq (Hz) Period X-Spectrum Y-Spectrum
(Sec) % Participation % Participation

1 1.348 0.742 84.74

2 1.443 0.693 85.58

6 2.983 0.335 3.74

7 3.088 0.324 3.02

8 8.475 0.118 6.34

10 8.731 0.115 6.39

TOTALS 94.99 94.82

Mode Shape 8
1
6
 Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 6 – Response Spectrum Analysis

• Ensure 90% of mass participating
• Combine internal modal forces from design response
spectrum using SRSS or CQC
• Check base shear for need to scale results upward
Direction Coupled Analysis ELF RSA/ELFS Scaling
RSA (V) (V) (Base Case) Required?
N-S 5296 k 6186 k 0.86 no
E-W 5710 k 6623 k 0.86 no
 Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 7 – Select a Structural System for the

Concrete Table Top (1of 3)
• Considered a NBS similar to Buildings
• Available systems listed in Table 15.4-1
• For SDC D, the following moment frame systems are permitted;
Lateral Force Resisting System R Height Limitations Detailing Requirements

Ordinary Reinforced Concrete 0.8 50 ft ACI 318, excluding Chapter 21

Moment Frame (OMF)
Intermediate Reinforced Concrete 0.8 No limit ACI 318, including Chapter 21
Moment Frame (IMF)
Intermediate Reinforced Concrete 3.0 50 ft ACI 318, including Chapter 21
Moment Frame (IMF) (Discussion Follows)
Special Reinforced Concrete Moment 8.0 No limit ACI 318, including Chapter 21
Frame (SMF) ASCE 7 Section 14.2.2.6
 Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Step 7 – Select a Structural System for the Concrete Table Top
(2 of 3)
• SMF (R=8) not recommended
– Damage to structure, equipment and piping systems from even moderate Seismic Event could affect
plant operations
– Structure likely to maintain a significant degree of original stiffness after reinforcement yielding due to
massive member proportions. This could result in serious under-design and disguise approach of
push-over limit

• IMF (R=0.8 when Ht>50ft)

– Cost Penalty for Overdesign and Detailing
– Seismic loads in higher design categories will control member sizes and pile on even more seismic
mass
 Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Step 7 – Select a Structural System for the
Concrete Table Top (3 of 3)
SDC Structural R Detailing
System Requirements
(Recommended)
A&B OMF 3 Exclude ACI Chapter 21
C IMF 3 Include ACI Chapter 21
D, E, F IMF ** 3 Include ACI Chapter 21

All Coke Drums 3 Welded steel with special

detailing
** Outside of current ASCE Ht Limitation of 50 ft. Task Committee believes OK
for oversize petrochemical structures, but requires comprehensive analysis
and approval of Owner and permitting authority
Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 8 – Develop Load Combinations

• DL(1.2) + LL(1.0) + EL(1.0)
• DL (.9) + E(1.0)
• EL includes
– 100% primary direction lateral load
– 30% perpendicular direction lateral load
– 20% of DL x SDS in vertical direction
– Accidental Torsion
– Redundancy Factor of 1.3 applied to lateral loads
Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 9 – Post Processing (1 of 2)

• Drift in Concrete Table-Top
Level Max Computed Story Drift Allowable
Story Drift
N-S E-W (per Table
12.12.1)
73.5’ - 54.25’ 0.83” 0.68” 2.66”

54.25’ - 23.5’ 2.30” 1.99” 4.26”

23.5’ – 0’ 1.32” 1.20” 3.25”

Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 9 – Post Processing (2 of 2)

• Member Forces and Capacities

Bending Check at Elev 73.5’ E-W Moment in Slab at Elev 73.5’

 Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Seismic Analysis and Design

Step 10 – Develop Design Details

#4 TIE SETS SPACED @ 11" (TYP)
7 TIES PER SET 8'-0"
2"
18-11's
2-11's
EXTEND COLUMN
TRANSVERSE 2-11's
7'-0"

REINFORCEMENT
2-11's
TO TOP OF JOINT
2-11's
18-11's

NO LAP SPLICES IN N-S BEAM BEAM CROSS SECTION

#4 TIE SETS SPAN
SPACED @ 11" LAP SPLICE E-W BEAM AT
MIDSPAN (2 LOCATIONS)

8'-0"

68 - #11 BARS
DETAIL AT TOP OF
COLUMNS
8'-0"

#4 TIES

COLUMN CROSS SECTION

 Seismic Design of Coker Structures
Step 11 – Design Nonbuilding Structures
supported by the Table-Top
• Coke Drums
– Seismic loading from the RSA of the combined model
– R=3 for skirt-supported elevated vessels provided special detailing
requirements met
– Loads usable for drum design and anchorage to table-top
• Steel Drilling Structure
– Seismic loading (Fp) from Chapter 13
– Design as Ordinary Concentrically Braced Frame with R=1.5
– OCBF does not have height limitations or detailing requirements
– Higher seismic loading typically not problem as wind governs design
Seismic Design of Coker Structures

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS