Thermal pressure due to an ice cap in an elevated water tank

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering
• Main Authors: Kong, W. L., Campbell, T. I.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1987
• Subjects: General Environmental Science; Civil and Structural Engineering; Ice cap
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/l87-076; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/l87-076

Ice formations have contributed to the deterioration observed in elevated reinforced concrete water tanks in Ontario. Pressures exerted by an ice cap contained within a circular tank and subjected to an increase in temperature are studied in this paper. A mathematical model for simulation of ice is used to determine hoop and flexural stresses induced in the wall of the tank by an expanding ice cap. These predictions are validated by comparison with test data, and charts have been developed by means of which hoop and flexural stresses in the wall of a tank may be determined for any particular thermal conditions in the ice cap. Key words: thermal pressure, water tank, ice cap, mathematical model, design charts, hoop stress, flexural stress.