ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF CHLORINE CONTACT TANK

CE257 PROJECT

Sedrik Aralar
Myla Dessa Rogelio
Jan Victor Serra
John Jerome Sy
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction
II. Objectives of the Study
III. Methodology
IV. Design Criteria
V. Results
VI. Conclusion
 I. INTRODUCTION

Disinfection, the final step in sewage treatment, is the process of killing pathogenic organisms
in the wastewater effluent. The most common means of disinfection is chlorination.

Chlorine contact tanks are designed to allow sufficient time for chlorine to treat the
wastewater before discharge to the receiving water body. These tanks are usually open
chambers split by a series of baffles that control the flow of water to improve the chlorination
process.

In this project, a reinforced concrete chlorine contact tank is analyzed and designed based on
the Finite Element Method with the surfaces modeled as plate elements using the software
STAAD.Pro V8i., where each rectangular plate element has 12 degrees of freedom.

The term “plate” refers to a solid body that is bounded by two parallel planes whose lateral
dimensions are large compared with the separation between them (Reddy, 2006). In the case
of the chlorine contact tank, the wall thickness is small with respect to the in-plane
dimensions, that is, the length and the height. Therefore, two-dimensional elasticity theories
may be applied.

II. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

To demonstrate the use of finite element plate analysis in the design of concrete tanks using
STAAD Pro.

III. METHODOLOGY

The Chlorine Contact Tank is analyzed and proportioned using the “Ultimate Strength Design”
method, using load factors and capacity reduction factors specified by the National Structural
Code of the Philippines Volume I and American Concrete Institute (ACI 350).

The structural analysis of the Chlorine Contact Tank was simulated based from Finite Element
Analysis. Finite Element Analysis is a technique for analyzing structures by meshing up the
structural model into a number of small elements which are connected by nodes.

The surfaces of the structure were modelled using finite elements made of reinforced
concrete resting on soil. The analyses were carried out using the computer program
STAAD.Pro V8i.
Figure 1. Chlorine Contact Tank 3D Model

Applied loads were determined based on calculation of gravity loads (Selfweight,

Superimposed Dead Load, and Live Load) and lateral loads (Hydrostatic and Lateral Earth
Pressure). Seismic loads such as Impulsive & Convective Forces and Roof & Wall Inertia Forces
were calculated based from the equations specified in ACI 350.

Flexural Design of Plates

For plate elements, bending and twisting moments were extracted from STAAD analysis.
These moments are converted to element design moments using the Wood and Armer
Method. This method considers the normal moment yield criterion (Johansen’s yield criterion)
aiming to prevent yielding in all directions. At any point in the element, the moment normal
to a direction resulting from design moments Mxx, Myy, and Mxy, must not exceed the
ultimate normal resisting moment in that direction. Mxx, Myy, and Mxy are bending and
twisting moments obtained from finite element analysis. The corresponding reinforcement
requirements were calculated using MS Excel calculation sheets.
 No Mx – │Mxy│ < 0 Yes

Mxd = 0
My – │Mxy│ < 0

No Yes

𝐌𝐱𝐲2
Mxd = Mx-│ 𝐌𝐲 │ Mxd = Mx-│Mxy│

Figure 2. Wood-Armer Method for Design Moment

Figure 3. Plate Bending Moments and Transverse Shear

Shear Design of Plates

Transverse shear (SQx and SQy) stresses were extracted from STAAD analysis; these stresses
are compared to the allowable shear stress calculated using Equation 1. If the allowable
concrete shear stress is less than the actual shear stress, additional confinement bars shall be
calculated.

Calculate ØVc

No ØVc < Vactual Yes

Shear reinforcement Provide shear

is not required reinforcement using
Equation 2

Figure 4. Shear Reinforcement Check

0.75√f′c
ØVc =
6

Equation 1. Shear Strength Provided by Concrete

ØAv Fy
s=√
Vactual − ØVc

Equation 2. Required Spacing of Shear Reinforcement

Cracking Design

Cracking check is based on ACI 350-06. Previous crack width analyses were based on the
limiting computed crack widths for various conditions of exposure. These limits have been
converted into limiting parameters “Z” (C.10.6.4, ACI 350-06). But according to Section 10.6,
the “Z” factor requirements are already replaced since the maximum allowable stresses are
now specified directly as a function of bar spacing.
 According to ACI 350, crack widths in environmental structures are highly variable; in previous
code, provisions were given for distribution of reinforcement that were based on empirical
equations using a calculated maximum crack width of 0.010 inches for normal environmental
exposure. The current provisions for spacing are intended to limit surface cracks to a width
that is generally acceptable in practice. The reinforcement shall provide a design strength that
is greater than or equal to the cracking moment. The Cracking Moment, also known as Mcr is
the moment that when exceeded causes concrete to begin cracking.

IV. Design Criteria

1. Loads
Design loads and forces are those resulting from dead, live, and earthquake loads acting in the
most critical combination, using the appropriate load factors recommended by the governing
codes. The basic loads types and their corresponding magnitudes were taken as follows:

Dead Loads (D)

The dead loads include the weight of all permanent construction and all materials which
are permanently fastened thereto and supported thereby. Following are the values of
dead loads adopted for the design of structural components:

Table 1. Dead Loads

Material Weight

Reinforced Concrete 24.0 kN/m3

Structural Steel 77.0 kN/m3

Live Loads (L)

The live loads comprise all movable loads including personnel, tools, and vehicles that may
vary in magnitude and/or distribution during the life of the structures. Following are the
live loads used in the analysis:

Table 2. Live Load Values under Manufacturing Occupancy/ Use

Description Load

Basic Floor Area 1.90 kPa

Pedestrian Bridges and walkways 4.80 kPa

Seismic Load (EQ)
The walls of liquid-containing structures shall be designed for the following forces in
addition to the static pressures (Hydrostatic and Earth) in accordance with Section 5.3.1
of ACI 350.3-06:

1. Inertia Forces Pw (Wall) and Pr (Roof);

2. Hydrodynamic impulsive force Pi from the contained liquid;
3. Hydrodynamic convective force Pc from the contained liquid;
4. Dynamic earth pressure from saturated and unsaturated soils against the buried
portion of the wall; and

Figure 5. Seismic Force Distribution Using ACI-350.3-06

Table 3. Seismic Load Criteria (ACI 350.3-06 and NSCP Vol. 1)

Criteria Value Reference

Importance Factor, I 1.50 ACI 350.3-06, Table 4.1.1(a)

Response Modification Factor, Rc 1.00 ACI 350.3-06, Table 4.1.1(b)

(Convective Component)

Response Modification Factor, Ri 2.23 ACI 350.3-06, Table 4.1.1(b)

(Impulsive Component)

Seismic Zone Factor, Z 0.40 NSCP Vol. 1, Section 208.4.4.1

Soil Profile SE NSCP Vol. 1, Table 208-7

Near Source Factor, Na 1.20 NSCP Vol. 1, Table 208-4

Near Source Factor, Nv 1.60 NSCP Vol. 1, Table 208-5

Soil Pressure and Surcharge (H)

Lateral Earth pressure is the force exerted by the soil mass upon an earth-retaining
structure. Lateral Earth pressure is estimated as vertical earth pressure times the
appropriate earth coefficient. Based from the Geotechnical Report prepared by GEOLAB
Technical Services (GTS), the underlying soil is mainly made up of upper sand-clay
materials (SC, CL) associated with low to medium plasticity which corresponds to a soil
unit weight of 18.0 kN/m3 to 20.0 kN/m3. The ground water table at the site was detected
at 1.0 meters from existing grade.

P = Υ hsoil K A

Equation 3. Active Earth Pressure

Where:
ϒ = Unit weight of backfill (kN/m3)

KA = Active Earth pressure coefficient

The “at rest” pressure develops when the wall experiences no lateral movement. This
typically occurs when the wall is restrained from movement such as along a basement
wall that is restrained at the bottom by a slab and at the top by a floor framing system
prior to placing soil backfill against the wall. While the active pressure develops when the
wall is free to move outward such as a typical retaining wall and free end walls, and the
soil mass stretches sufficiently to mobilize its shear strength. For the chlorine contact
tank, the applied lateral earth pressure is active since the wall is only restrained at the
bottom.

To simplify consideration of traffic loads for wall design, AASHTO treats traffic loads as
uniform earth surcharge on the retained soil. The standard specification prescribe that
surcharge = 0.61m. Increase in lateral Earth pressure is estimated as:

Psurcharge = Υ × hsurcharge × K A

Equation 4. Surcharge Pressure

ϒ = Unit weight of backfill (kN/m3)

KA = Active Earth pressure coefficient

Fluid Pressure (F)

Hydrostatic pressure is the force exerted by the fluid mass upon a water retaining
structure. Fluid pressure is estimated as unit weight of fluid times the height of the
contained liquid. The applied unit weight of sludge is 10.4 kN/m3.
Load Combinations

Reinforced concrete sections shall be designed using the “Ultimate Strength Design”
method of the ACI 350-06 & ACI 318.

Most critical of the following load combination will be adopted for the design of reinforced
concrete:

U = 1.4D

U = 1.2D + 1.6H

U = 1.2D + 1.6L + 1.6H

U = 1.2D + 1.2F + 1.6L + 1.6H

U = 1.2D + 1.0L + 1.6H + 1.0EQx

U = 1.2D + 1.0L + 1.6H + 1.0EQz

U = 1.2D + 1.0L + 1.6H + 0.8WLx

U = 1.2D + 1.0L + 1.6H + 0.8WLz

U = 0.9D + 1.2F + 1.6H + 1.0EQx

U = 0.9D + 1.2F + 1.6H + 1.0EQz

For the foundation design, the soil bearing pressure shall be determined using the load
factors specified under Section 203.4.1 of NSCP Vol. 1:

U = 1.0D

U = 1.0D + 1.0H

U = 1.0D + 1.0F

U = 1.0D + 1.0L + 1.0H

U = 1.0D + 1.0F + 1.0L + 1.0H

U = 1.0D + 1.0H + 1.0F + EQx /1.4

U = 1.0D + 1.0H + 1.0F + EQZ /1.4

U = 1.0D + 1.0H + 1.0F + WLx

U = 1.0D + 1.0H + 1.0F + WLZ

Where:

D – Dead Load

L – Live Load
H – Lateral Pressure of Soil and Water in Soil

F – Fluid Load

EQ – Earthquake Force

Hydrodynamic forces for liquid containing structures will be combined using the Square
Root of the Sum of the Squares (SRSS) procedure. SRSS is used to obtain seismic design
response.

The hydrodynamic force at any given height y from the base shall be determined by:

Py = √(Piy + Pwy )2 + (Pcy )2 + (Pvy )2

Equation 5. Hydrodynamic Force using SRSS Procedure

Durability Factor (Section 9.2.6, 10.6.4, and C9.2.9 ACI 350-06)

Required Strength U shall be multiplied by the following environmental durability factor

(Sd) in portions of an environmental engineering concrete structure where durability,
liquid-tightness, or similar serviceability are considerations. This shall apply to non-
seismic load combinations.

Urequired = 𝑆𝑑 𝑈

Equation 6. Required Ultimate Strength

From Section 9.2.6 of ACI 350-06,

øfy
Sd = ≥ 1.0
Υfs

Equation 7. Durability Factor

Where:

factored load
Υ=
unfactored load

fs – permissible tensile stress in reinforcement

Based from Section C.10.6.4 of ACI 350-06, a liquid containing structure is considered to
be under normal environmental exposure if it is exposed to liquids with alkalinity of more
than pH of 5. Based from the influent – effluent test of sewage treatment plants, the
average alkalinity of pumping stations are pH of 7.5. For this reason, the BGC STP is under
normal environmental exposure.
 For shear stress : 2.50U

For flexural stress : 2.50U

Further for load combinations involving wind or earthquake, the allowable soil bearing
pressure maybe increased by one-third.

2. Allowable Unit Stresses

a. Concrete

The minimum compressive strength for concrete shall be f’c=31MPa (4,500 psi). Cement
shall be Sulphate resistant conforming to ASTM C150, Type I with Fly Ash or Type II
Portland Cement except as otherwise stated.

b. Reinforcing Steel

Reinforcing Steel Bars shall be deformed and shall conform to ASTM A615:

Table 4. Minimum Yield Strength, Fy, of Reinforcing Bars

Superstructure & Substructure Fy, MPa (psi)

Φ16mm - Φ 36mm 414 MPa (Grade 60)

Φ 10mm - Φ 12mm 276 MPa (Grade 40) Commented [A11]:

3. Allowable Bearing Capacity

Based from the Geotechnical Report, under shear failure control for bearing resistance of the
underlying soils for foundation levels between 1.50 meters to 3.00 meters depth, the safe
bearing resistance shall be limited to 110 kPa.
V. Results

The analysis of the tank was performed using STAAD Pro. The model used 0.5 x 0.5 m plate
elements in the analysis. The tank has a length and width of 19 m and 12.5 m respectively. It
is 4.5 m high. The base of the structure is 700 mm thick. The perimeter walls and main interior
wall are 600 mm and 500 mm thick respectively. The interior partitions are 200 mm thick.
500 mm

200 mm

600 mm

Figure 6. STAAD Pro Model

The base pressures were calculated using the ASD load combinations. The governing load
pressures are shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7. Base Pressures

The maximum base pressure obtained was 45 kPa. This value is below the allowable soil
pressure of 110 kPa. The factor of safety calculated is 2.4.

The out-of-plane shears were calculated as shown in Figure 8. As observed, the maximum
stresses were found at the corners.

Figure 8. Out-of-Plane Shears

Figure 9. Out-of-Plane Shears (Wall Section)

Figure 10. Out-of-Plane Shears (Wall Section)

The bending moments obtained are shown in Figure 11. It was also observed the maximum
moments are found at the wall corners.

Figure 11. Wall Bending Moments

Using the plate forces obtained in the analysis, the structure was designed using the Wood
and Armer Method. A sample calculation sheet is shown in Figure 12.

Figure 12. Wood and Armer Method

VI. Conclusion