Title: Analysis and Design of an Innovative Multi-cell Circular Concrete Tank

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Publication: CIA

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Date: 2/14/2011

Abstract:
The Gippsland Water Factory is a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment and recycling facility located in Victoria, Australia, that will treat domestic and industrial waste and provide recycled water for local industry. Demonstrating the influence of concrete construction in modern treatment plants of the water industry and challenges meeting engineers, the design and analysis of an innovative multi-cell circular ‘donut-shaped’ prestressed concrete bioreactor tank is described in this paper. The complex process and maintenance requirements meant liquid levels varied in the four separable quadrants of the tank, which resulted in nonsymmetrical loading conditions to the inner and outer walls. The paper outlines deficiencies in simplified analysis tools for assessing wall stresses for non-symmetrical loading in circular tanks and, by example, demonstrates use of modern analysis methods such as finite element modelling to meet process requirements of the modern treatment plant.