Assessment of the Influence of Geometrical Defects on the Stress-Strain State of Tanks

The article contains the results of researches of the stress-strain state of the walls of horizontal tanks for storage of oil, oil products and other liquids, as well as analyses of the influence of defects on their strength and operational safety. Horizontal tanks have a number of advantages, such as resistance to wind loads, ease of installation and maintenance. However, during operation they are subjected to significant mechanical, thermal and chemical stresses, resulting in defects such as dents, bulges, cracks and scratches. These defects significantly reduce the reliability and service life of tanks, which makes their timely detection and the use of software products for modelling and mathematical evaluation of the defects impact on the strength of the structure relevant.The objective of the study is to calculate the strength of horizontal tanks taking into account the presence of a surface defect of the crack type and to evaluate the influence of geometric imperfections on their stress-strain state. To analyze the influence of defects on the tank’s strength, a software package for engineering calculations and numerical simulation was used. In the course of the work, the stress-strain state of the tank wall in the presence of a crack-type defect with different depths and radii of curvature was investigated, calculations of maximum equivalent stresses depending on the defect parameters were carried out, and threshold values at which the tank can operate in a failure-free mode were revealed.The obtained results will make it possible to improve the accuracy of forecasts of the technical condition of tank structures, reasonably assess their residual life, and develop recommendations for tank operation.