1.
Weight of the Fiberglass Tank with Water Fill
Given:
● Diameter of the tank (D) = 5 m
● Height of the tank (H) = 4.5 m
● Actual volume of the tank (V) = 84 m3 as per model designed
a. Weight of the Water
● Density of water (ρ water) = 1000 kg/m³
mass of water=V×ρwater=84 m3 × 1000 kg/m3 = 84,000kg
b. Weight of the Fiberglass Tank
Assuming the density of fibreglass (ρ fibreglass) = 1800 kg/m³ and the thickness of the
tank = 0.02 m.
Surface area of the tank (approximate):
Total surface area =109.96 m2 as per tank
Volume of fibreglass:
V Fiberglass= A total×Thickness≈109.96m2×0.02m=2.1992m3
Weight of fibreglass:
Weight of fibreglass=V Fiberglass×ρ fibreglass ≈2.1992 m3×1800 kg/m3=3,958.56 kg
c. Total Weight
Total weight=Weight of water+Weight of fibreglass=84,000kg+3,958.56kg≈87,958.56kg
2. Weight of the Alloy Steel Structure
Given weight of the structure without the tank = 8870 kg from Solidworks
3. Selection of H Beams and L Angles for Truss
Let's select appropriate H beams and L angles based on the load and structural
requirements.
a. H Beams
○ Dimensions of UB 305 x 165 x 40:
■ Depth (h) = 305 mm
■ Width (b) = 165 mm
■ Web thickness (tw) = 7.1 mm
■ Flange thickness (tf) = 11.2 mm
■ Mass per metre = 40.4 kg/m
○ Material Properties:
■ Yield strength = 250 MPa
○ Loads:
■ Total weight supported by each column = 24,664.64 kg
■ Total load per column in Newtons = 241,839.15 N
Calculations
1. Moment of Inertia (I): The moment of inertia for UB 305 x 165 x 40 can be found
in standard tables.
For this section:
Ix=147×106 mm4
2. Section Modulus (Z): The section modulus is given by:
Z = I/y = 964×103mm3
3. Maximum Bending Moment (M): The maximum bending moment occurs at the
midpoint of the beam, assuming the load is uniformly distributed.
Where www is the uniform load per unit length and L is the length of the beam.
○ Let's assume a span length L=2.5 m
○ w= 96,735.66N/m
○ M = 75,575N⋅m
Maximum Bending Stress (σ\sigmaσ): The maximum bending stress can be
calculated
σ= M/Z = M. y / I = 78.44MPa
4. Safety Check: Compare the calculated maximum bending stress with the yield
strength of the material.
σ=78.44 MPa <250 MPa
FOS = σy/σ = 250 /78.44 = 3.18 (Safe)
The maximum bending stress is well within the yield strength of the material,
indicating that the UB 305 x 165 x 40 is a suitable selection for the given load
conditions.
b. L Angles for Truss
To select the appropriate L angle (150 x 150 x 10 mm) for the truss members, we need
to check if it can safely carry the loads acting on it. This involves verifying the strength
of the L angle under the expected loads. The calculations will include determining the
load on the L angle, checking the stress, and comparing it with the allowable stress for
the material.
Given:
● L angle size: 150 x 150 x 10 mm
● Number of trusses: 3 per side
● Type of truss - Howe ( Scissor ) Truss
● Material: Structural steel (assuming yield strength 𝜎 𝑦 = 250 MPa σ y =250
MPa
● Steps: Determine the load on the L angle: Assume the total load on the tank,
including the water, is distributed evenly across the trusses.
● Total weight of tank filled with water = 𝑊 = Volume × Density of water Total
weight of tank filled with water=
W=Volume×Density of water Volume = 84 m 3
Volume=84 m 3
Density of water = 1000 kg/m 3
W=84×1000=84000 kg=84000×9.81=823440 N
Assume the weight is distributed equally among the 12 trusses (3 trusses per
side, 4 sides):
Load per truss = 823440 /12 = 68620 N
The L angle will experience axial loading.
Calculate the cross-sectional area of the L angle:
Area = 2 × ( 150 × 10 ) − 10 × 10 = 3000 − 100 = 2900 mm 2 = 0.0029 m 2
Calculate the stress in the L angle:
Stress = Load/ Area = 68620 /0.0029 = 23662069 Pa = 23.66 MPa
Compare the calculated stress with the allowable stress:
Allowable stress for Alloy steel can be taken as (using a safety factor of 1.5):
Allowable stress=250/1.5=166.67 MPa
Since the calculated stress (23.66 MPa) is much less than the allowable stress (166.67
MPa), the L angle is adequate for the axial load.
4. Reaction Forces
The reaction forces at the base of the columns can be calculated as follows:
Vertical reaction force at each column= W total / 4 = 241,839.15 N
Buckling Check:
For long slender members, buckling must be checked. The critical buckling load can be
calculated using Euler's formula:
Pcr =302300 N
Since the load on each truss (68620 N) is less than the critical buckling load (302300
N), the L angle is safe from buckling.
The selected L angle (150 x 150 x 10 mm) is adequate for the given loading conditions
in terms of both axial stress and buckling. The calculations show that the stress is within
allowable limits and the member will not buckle under the given loads.
6. Pump Power and Torque:
● Distance to water source: 20 meters
● Height of the tower: 10.5 meters
● Tank height: 4.5 meters
● Total height (vertical lift): 10.5+4.5=15 meters
● Pipe diameter (Considered): 100 mm
● Required flow rate: (to be determined based on desired fill time)
● Pump efficiency: 70% (0.7)
● Flow Rate (Q):
The volume of the tank is 92 cubic meters.
Assume we want to fill the tank in 2 hours (7200 seconds).
Q at Suction and discharge = Volume/Time= 0.01278m3/s = 12.78L/s
Friction Losses: Using the Darcy-Weisbach equation for friction loss in
the pipe:
Major Loss -
hl = f x (C/d) x (v2/2g) = 0.108 m
Q=AxV
0.01167 = (π / 4 ) x 0.1^2 x V
V=1.48 m/s
Re = ρvd / m = 144704.09 > 4000
Re = 1.4 x 10^5
1/ √f = -2log x (( ε/D)/3.7 )+ 2.51/(Re x √f)
f = 0.02
○ f= friction factor
○ L= length of pipe (20 meters horizontal + 15 meters vertical)
○ D= diameter of pipe (0.1 meters)
○ v= velocity of water
○ g= acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s²)
Friction loss in the pipe: hf=0.952m
● Calculate Total Head (H):
H=Vertical lift+hf +hl = 15+0.952+0.108 =16.06 m
● Calculate Pump Power (P):
P=ρgQH/η/Where:
○ ρ= density of water (1000 kg/m³)
○ g= acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s²)
○ Q= flow rate (0.01278 m³/s)
○ H= total head (15.952 metres)
○ η= pump efficiency (0.7)
● P=1000×9.81×0.01278×15.952/0.7=2786.04Watts
Converting to kilowatts:
P=2.786kW
Conclusion:
The pump power required to fill the tank from a water source 20 metres away, with
a vertical lift of 15 metres and an assumed efficiency of 70%, is approximately
2.786kW.
Torque :-
Given that the pump power (P) is 2.786kW, we can calculate the torque for two typical
pump speeds: 2900 RPM and 1450 RPM. Let's use the formula for both cases.
Calculation for 2900 RPM:
1. Convert RPM to Radians per Second:
ω=2π×2900 / 60=303.47 rad/s
2. Torque:
τ=2786 / 303.47=9.18Nm
Calculation for 1450 RPM:
1. Convert RPM to Radians per Second:
ω=2π×1450 / 60=151.74 rad/s
2. Torque:
τ=2786/151.74=18.36Nm
Summary:
● If the pump operates at 2900 RPM, the required torque is approximately 9.18 Nm.
● If the pump operates at 1450 RPM, the required torque is approximately 18.36 Nm.
Sketches of Free Body Diagrams and Truss Joints :-
Front Elevation Truss formation
● Downward force at node 6: P6=241.84 kN
● Downward force at node 11: P11=241.84 kN
● Horizontal distance between nodes 1 and 2: d1,2=5.5 metres
●
● Equilibrium Equations
1. Sum of Vertical Forces:
∑Fy=0⇒ R1+R2−P6−P11=0
R1+R2=483.68 kN
2. Sum of Moments about Node 1: Taking moments about node 1
∑M1=0⇒−241.84×0−241.84×5.5+R2×5.5=0
R2=240.20 kN
Solving for R1
R1=483.68−240.20 R1=243.66 kN
Side Elevation Truss formation
Given:
● Downward force at node 6: P6=241.84 kN
● Downward force at node 11: P11=241.84 kN
● Horizontal distance between nodes 1 and 2: d1,2=5 metres
●
● Equilibrium Equations
2. Sum of Vertical Forces:
∑Fy=0⇒ R1+R2−P6−P11=0
R1+R2=483.68 kN
3. Sum of Moments about Node 1: Taking moments about node 1
∑M1=0⇒−241.84×0−241.84×5+R2×5=0
R2=241.84 kN
Solving for R1
R1=483.68−240.20 R1=241.84 kN
Joint calculations :-
Joint 6 :-
∑Fx =0 F6-11 = 0
∑Fy =-241.84 - F6-5 = 0
F6-5 = 241.84 kN
Joint 11 :-
Θ = tan -1 ( 2.35/4.7) =26.56
∑Fx =0 -F10 Cos( 26.56) = 0
F10 = 0
∑Fy =-241.84 - F11-10 - F10 Sin (26.56) = 0
F11-10 =- 241.84 kN
References :-
Fiberglass Tank Design and Weight Calculation:
● M. Arockiarajan, N. Ramachandran. "Design and Analysis of FRP Tanks."
International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and
Technology. 2014.
● S. S. Ray, S. M. Bhatnagar. "Structural Design of Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic
(FRP) Tanks." Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites. 2007.
Stainless Steel Structure:
● Charles J. Carter, et al. "Design and Analysis of Stainless Steel Structures."
Journal of Structural Engineering. 1999.
● A. K. Mallick, N. C. Neithalath. "Structural Behavior of Stainless Steel Members."
Journal of Constructional Steel Research. 2005.
Tower Structure and Trusses:
● A. D. Liu, C. S. Driscoll. "Analysis and Design of Steel Structures." Engineering
Structures. 2003.
● H. G. Chua, et al. "Truss Design and Analysis." Journal of Structural Engineering.
2010.
Pump Power and Torque:
● J. M. Duguid, P. J. Duguid. "Pump Selection and Power Calculation."
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power
and Energy. 2001.
● M. J. McCloskey, J. R. Shaw. "Energy Efficiency in Pumping Systems." Journal of
Fluids Engineering. 2012.
Pipe Flow and Water Flow Rate:
● F. M. White. "Fluid Mechanics and Pipe Flow Analysis." McGraw-Hill Education.
2011.
● D. W. A. Rees, et al. "Pipe Flow Calculations and Design." Journal of Hydraulic
Engineering. 2008.
