Deterministic Assessment of the Seismic Behavior of Cylindrical Steel Storage Tanks: A Methodological Framework Based on the New Algerian Seismic Code

Abstract

The Steel storage tanks are critical structures, frequently used in the industrial sector for the storage of various types of products, primarily toxic or flammable. This type of structure is complex in terms of design, engineering, and safety management. During severe earthquakes, the loss of tank performance can be devastating, leading to uncontrollable chain reactions that can cause more damage than the earthquake itself. In Algeria, despite the economic importance of these structures and their growing number across the country, the various updates to the seismic code (1981, 1999, 2003, 2024) have not included storage structures (concrete and steel) in their designs. This forces civil engineers, in their studies, to rely on foreign standards such as API 650, BS 2654, etc.This study, focused on cylindrical steel tanks, proposes a practical deterministic methodology for establishing seismic design criteria tailored to the Algerian context. The approach primarily relies on two key considerations: hydrodynamic effects, represented by the housner’s model, and the seismic load defined by the response spectrum of the Algerian Seismic Code (RPA-2024). The study concludes with practically relevant insights derived from the results obtained.