Stresses in Ruptured Floating Roofs

Abstract

Procedures are developed for determining the stresses and displacements for pontoon-type floating roof structures subjected to the loading caused by the product leaking through punctures onto the deck. The effects of various parameters such as tank diameter, product density and pontoon geometry are examined. Numerical examples are presented which compare the stresses and deflections for the ruptured case to those caused by accumulated rainwater. Large axial compressive stresses together with their associated buckling problems are found in the pontoon for the examples presented. Possible corrective measures for these problems are considered.