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CHAPTER

Water Tanks

13.1 INTRODUCTION
campuses, localities, towns and cities various
To meet the daily requirement of water by industries, in general, classified as:
types of R.C. water tanks are used. Such tanks may be
() Tanks resting on ground,
(ii) Under ground tanks and
(iüi) Elevated tanks.
resting on ground and underground
The tanks may have circular or rectangular sections. Tanks
have flat bottomor conical bottom.
tanks have flat bottom slab while elevated water tanks may
requirement in the design of water tank is
Apart from strength requirement, another essential the concrete,
imperviousness. To make water tanks impervious, wider cracks should be avoided in
which may be achieved by
(i) Use richer concrete mix, say M25 or M30.
(ii) Give a minimum clear cover of 25 mm.
(iii) Provide smaller diameter bars at closer intervals.
(iv) Keep the tensile stresses in concrete low.
and good curing.
(v) Follow goodconstruction practices like thorough mixing good compaction

13.2 DESIGN REQUIREMENT

the storage of liquids. This was
IS : 3370 is the Indian code of practice for concrete structures for
1997 and the same is reaffirmed in
adopted in December 1967. It incorporated two amendments in
1999. The code is available in the following four parts:
Part I :General requirements
Part II : Reinforced concrete structures
Part III: Prestressed concrete structures, and
Part IV : Design tables.
in water tanks. IS 450
To avoid leakage problems, limit state method of design should not be used
(Re affirmed in 1999)
2000 is silent about permissible stresses in direct tension. Hence from IS 3370
on working stress
it is obvious that earlier version of IS 456 guide lines should be used, which is based
method. Permissible stresses for concrete and steel are as shown in Tables 13.1 and 13.2
 Water Tanks 241

Table 13.1 Pernissible Stresses in Concrete

Grade of Permissible Stress in Tension in N/mm Permissible Stress

Concrete in Shear in N/m
Direct Bending
M20 1.2 1.7 17
M25 1.3 L,8 19
M30 15 2,0 2.2
M35 1.6 2,2 2.5
M40 1.7 24 2.7

Permissible Stress in Nmm

Types of Stress
Mild Steel HYSD Bars
115 150
1. Direct tensile stress
2. Tensile stress in bending 115 150
() On liquid retaining face mm 115 150
() On face away from liquid if it is less than 225 190
(ç) On face away from liquid, if it is 2 225 mm
125

3. Tensile stress in shear

reinforcement
115 150
thick
() For members less than 225 mm 125 175
(i) For members 225 mm thick 175
direct load 125
4. Compressive stress in columns subjected to
Minimum Reinforcement
thicknesses
of reinforcement should be 0.3. For
For thickness upto 100 mm, minimum percentage percent. Hence
from 100 mm to 450 mm it may be reduced linearly to 0.2
sections
Pmin = 0.3 upto 100 mm thick
I-100
0.3-0.1 450- 100 for t= 100mm to 450 mm

directions.
Minimum reinforcement should be ensured in both
thickness of section is more than 225 mm, layers of bars are required near both face, however
If
it isenbugh if total steel meets the minimum requirement.

13.3 METHODS OF ANALYSIS

need sophisticated methods of analysis.
The behaviour of walls of water tank is more complex. They
with different edge conditions is required. For
For cylindrical tank, bending theory of cylindersboundary conditions at the four edges give better
Tectangular tanks, plate theory with appropriate slabs also influence the values of
results. The continuity with adjacent walls and with top and bottom thegood result. IS 3370 (Part IV)
hmoments and shears, One can think of finiteelement analysis to getshear coefficients for the design of
aiirmed in 1999 gives the design tables to pick up moment and analysis, makes the design more
cylindrical as well as rectangular walls. Use of sophisticated
cconomical.
 242 Advanced R.C.C. Design

However there are approximate methods of analysis, commonly used in the

design. In the
approximate method, it is assumed that in case of circular tanks bottom 1/3rd height or Im,
whichever
is greater. is predominantly under cantilever action where as in case of rectangular tanks bottonver
height or l m, whichever is greater is mainly under cantilever action. Rest of the wall is
water pressure by forces developed in horizontal directions. Approximate method is always on sof resisting
side and hence design is uneconomical. However it has the following advantages:
() It is simple
(ii) It gives feel of the structural behaviour.
Hence designer or site engineer can always avoid disasters of mistakes of draftman or those dueto
confusion of sign conventions in the analysis.
We may have lot of sophisticated methods of analysis to assess the design
forces, but it is
necessary for engineers to develop feel of structural behaviour. Hence the approximation methods of
analysis should be learnt by engineering students. In this book designs are carried out after using
approximate methods for the analysis.

13.4 DESIGN OF CIRCULAR TANKS RESTING ON GROUND

Circular tanks can have flexible base or rigid base. Fig. 13.1 shows typical
flexible joints, the wall is free to move outward when internal water pressure circular tanks. In case of
is applied and hence, the
wall is subjected to hoop forces T' only

Steel plating
Joint sealing compared Corner reinforcement

Sliding surface
or rubber pad

(a) Sliding base

(b) Sliding base
Fig. 13.1 Tybical circular tanks

T=yH2 ...
(13.1)
where y= Unit weight of water
H= Height of tank and
D= Diameter of circular tank.
The reinforcement for hoop forces is to be given in horizontal directions. In vertical
minimum steel is to be provided. direction omy
In case of rigid joint, lower portion is having predominantly cantilever action while upper portionis
mainly in hoop tension Fig. 13.2 gives the approximated load diagram for the two actions. If'h' is the
height BD, then cantilever moment at base
 Water Tanks 243

T
Load taken by H-h
hoop action
H H

DLoad taken D
by cantilever
action
C
B B
w H
kH
(a) Load sharing (b) Load for cantilever action

Fig. 13.2
... (13.2)
= y(H-)
at D
and maximum hoop tension
D
T= Y(H-h)2
H
or 1m whichever is more.
For circular tanks 'h may be taken as
method of design.
Examples 13.1 and 13.2 illustrate the

13.5 DESIGN CONSTANTS

axis is 'nd where
Referring to Fig. 13.3, depth of neutral cbc n/3d
C
nd

mos

Fig. 13.3

... (13.3)
mo cbc
n =
mocbe +Og
Lever arm is id where
... (13.4)
n

j= 1 3
and moment of resistance is given by
M= kbd²
 244 Advanced RC.C. Design

where
... (13.5)
The equivalent concrete section
A= A+ mA, =A, + (m- 1) A,, ... (13.6)
In the above
expressions,
Gebe= Permissible compressive stress in concrete in bending
O, = Permissible stress in steel
and
m= Modular ration =
E
280 -,
30 ctc which usually rounded of to nearest full number ... (13.7)
is
A, = Area of concrete
A,= Area of steel
A,=GTOSS area of cross-section.
FREE B0ARD
In all water tanks a free
kept 200 mm more thanboardthe
of about 200 mm is to be
given; in other words depth of water
water is taken as the total epthrequired depth for the full capacity. However for the
tanks in
only design
water upto full height depth
stored. since occasionally a stagnant of
may be
Example 13.1. Design acircular water tank with
litres of water. The depth of tank
may be kept 4 m.flexible base resting on the ground to
Solution: Use M25 concrete and Fe 415 store 50,000
Capacity of tank = 50,000 lítres = 50 m'
steel.8ER
Depth of tank =4m
:If D is the diameter, then

Dx4 =So
Provide 4 m díameter D=3.989 m
Free board
. Total height of tank H==200 mm
4 + 0.2 = 4.2 m
Unit weight of water
Permissible tensile stress in7=9.8 kN/m
Permissible tensile stress in Fe-415 steel = 150 N/mm
Maximum hoop tension concrete = 1.3 N/mm
T=yHD2 =9.8x 4.2 x 4 =
2 82.32 KN/per meter
height at base
 Water Tanks 245

o, = 150 N/mm²
Area of steelrequired for taking hoop tension
82.32 x 1000
A_h= = 548.8 mm²
150
Using 12 mm bars, spacing

T12*-x1000 = 206 mm
4
548.8
Provide 12 mm bars at 200 mm clc.
1000
A,h provided x 12 x
200
565.5 mm' per metre height.
Increase the spacing to 300 mm at a height 1.5 m from base.

Thickness of Wall
Maximum hoop tension T= 82.32 kN
Permissible stress in tension = 1.3 N/mm
Modular ratio for M25 concrete
280 280
m= = 11
3XO cbc 3x8.5
If 'r is the thickness of wall, equivalent area of concrete per metre height
= 1000 t+ (m - 1) A_h
Hence

10001 +(m-1)A h
82.32 x 1000
1.3 =
1000t + (11- 1) x 565.5
Or t= 57.66 mm

Provide t= 100 mm

Vertical Steel
Only minimum reinforcement is required.
0.3 x 100 x1000 =300 mm
i. A, minimum 100
Using 8 mm bars,

S=
4 x1000 = 167 mm
300
Provide8 mm bars at 150 mm clc
246 Advanced R.C.C. Design

Base Slab
The base slab will be laid on a 75 mm lean mix bed covered with tarfelt. Since the load
to ground directly, a nominal thickness of 150 mm may be provided with minimum gets transferredin
both direction.

0.3
reinforcement
:. A, minimum -x 150x 1000 = 450 mm?
100
Providing half the reinforcement near each face
A,, = 225 mm?
Using 8 mm bars,

x82
4
S
x1000 = 223 mm
225
Provide 8 mm bars at 220 mm
c/c on both faces in both
Fig. 13.4 shows the details of directions.
reinforcement.
100

2.7m 4'2m
12 mm
@ 300 8 mm @ 150clc

1.5m12 mm
@ 200 Joint sealing compound
clc Bmm @ 200 clc on
both faces
150

Fig. 13.4
Example 13.2. Design the water tank for the
between wall and data given in
Solution:
base slab is rigid.
Approximate method may example 13. 1
be used for theassuming that the joint
analysis.
Dimensions of the tank: Diameter D = 4 m
Total height H=4.2 m
Mix used : M25. Steel to be
used Fe 415
Oche =8.5 N/m and o, = 150
:. Modular ratio 280
N/mm
=11
Design constants are 3x8.5

n= mo cbc 11x8.5
mo cbe +Ost 11x 8.5+150 =0.384
 Water Tarks 247

0.384
j=1=l 3
= 0.872

1 1
k=0cbe XjXn=X8.5 x0.872 x 0.384 = 1428
Design for cantilever action
The height h' above base upto which cantilever action exist is given by
H
h= or 1m whichever is more
3

4.2
h= = 14 m
3

1 h
Cantilever moment -YHxhX 3
1.4
=x9.8 x4.2 x 1.4 x 3 = 13.446 kN-m
2
Depth of balance section

M |13.446 x 10 =97.3 mm
d=
Vkxb V1428 x 1000
To keep the section sufficiently under reinforced.
4
Let d=x97.3 = 129.7 mm
3
mm. (Note: Minimum thickness of 150 mm is
Let us keep d = 130 mm and total thickness 165
normally kept to avoid leakage problems).
M 13.446 x 106
A,= =790.8 mm noude
O, jd 150 x 0.872 x 130
Using 10 mm bars,

1 10
4 x1000 = 99.32
S=
790.8
clear cover of 30 mm.
Provide 10 mm bars at 95 mm clc near inner face, keeping
alternate bars at a height of 1.4 m,
Hence let us provide 10mm bars at 95 mm clc at base and curtail
SO that a spacing of 190 mm is available in top 2.8 m height.
248 Advanced R.C.C. Design

Design of Section for Hoop Action

For this reinforcement is to be provided in horizontal direction, Max hoop tension is to be conside..
at height h =1.4 m in this case. Hoop tension is given by
T=YH - h) x D/2
4
=9.8(4.2 - 1.4) x 2 = 54.88 kN
54.88x 1000
Ah= = 365.8 mm?
150
Using 10 mm bars, spacing

S=
110 -x1000 = 214 mm
4
365.8
Provide 10 mm bars @200 mm clc.
Check for tensile stress in concrete:

Actual
Tx10
4 x1000 =392.6 mm²
200
T

Equivalent concrete area

54.88 x 1000
= 1.10 N/mm
165 x1000 + (111) x 392.6
Permissible , for M25 concrete = 1.3N/mm
Hence safe.
For bottom 1.4 m above base the spacing of 100 mm may be maintained. In the remaining portion
it may be raised to 300 mm clc.

Distribution Steel (In vertical direction)

0.3
Minimum steel required x 165 x 1000 = 495 mm?.
100
:Vertical steel for cantilever action serves this purpose also.
Base Slab
Provide nominal thickness of 150 mm with nominal reinforcement of 8 mm bars at 220 mm clc in
both direction.
Provide 150 mm x 150 mm haunches at junction. To ensure the rigidity of connection, provide
junction reinforcement of 8 mm bars at 220 mm clc. It takes care of development length required for
cantilever steel.
Fig. 13.5 shows the details of reinforcement.
 Water Tanks 249
165

2.8m

10 mm @300
c<c 10 mm @ 95 clc

1.4 m
10 mm @ 200
8mm @ 200 clc on both faces
clc
150
Fig. 13.5

13,6 RECTANGULAR TANKS RESTING ON GROUND

Consider the design of rectangular water tank of size L xB x H, where
L-Length of tank
B- Breadth of tank
H-Total height of tank
In the approximate methods such tanks are divided into two categories
(i) Tanks with L/B <2
(ii) Tanks with L/B>2
0) Design of tanks with L/B < 2. Similar to design of circular tanks, here also lower part is
horizontal
2ssumed to have predominantly cantilever action and upper portion to have resistance by a height
dcuon. The load taken by the two actions is shown in Fig. 13.6(a), where D is a point at
... (13.8)
h= H/4 or 1m, whichever is more
Hence maximum cantilever moment on the wall
1 h .. (13.9)

top (at D). Hence p, = YH- h) as

or norizontal action, maximum pressure is at (H - ) m below
shown in Fig. 13.6 (b).
P
12

P,B
Load taken by horizontal 12
H-h Ph
frame action B
H Ph
Pr
(H-h)
Load taken by horizontal
Cantilever action

(a) (b)

Fig 13.6 Pressure Diagram