Dynamic Response of A Group of Cylindrical Storage Tanks with Baffles Considering the Effect of Soil Foundation

The sloshing in a group of rigid cylindrical tanks with baffles and on soil foundation under horizontal excitation is studied analytically. The solutions for the velocity potential are derived out by the liquid subdomain method. Equivalent models with mass-spring oscillators are established to replace continuous fluid. Combined with the least square technique, Chebyshev polynomials are employed to fit horizontal, rocking and horizontal-rocking coupling impedances of soil, respectively. A lumped parameter model for impedance is presented to describe the effects of soil on tank structures. A mechanical model for the soil-foundation-tank-liquid-baffle system with small amount of calculation and high accuracy is proposed using the substructure technique. The analytical solutions are in comparison with data from reported literature and numerical codes to validate the effectiveness and correctness of the model. Detailed dynamic properties and seismic responses of the soil-tank system are given for the baffle number, size and location as well as soil parameter.