Numerical Investigation of Stochastic Response of an Elevated Water Tank to Random Underground Blast Loading

Abstract

This paper presents a stochastic finite element seismic response study of a water tank subjected to random underground blast-induced ground motion. Such tanks contain water and hazardous chemical substances, which implies significant risk to human life, serious environmental pollution, and considerable economic loss. The random blast-induced ground motion is represented by power spectral density function and applied to each support point of the three dimensional finite element model of the elevated water tank-fluid interaction system. A parametric study is conducted to estimate the effects of the blast-induced ground motion on the stochastic response of the elevated water tank system. Therefore, the analyses are carried out for different values of the charge weight and the distance from the charge centre. Additionally, in order to investigate the effect of the fluid on the stochastic response of the elevated water tank, three cases with different water levels are considered in the analyses. Finally, it is observed that underground blast loading considerably changes the stochastic behavior of the elevated water tank system. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.