ENERGY METHOD FOR BASE UPLIFTING ANALYSIS OF LIQUID-STORAGE TANKS

A solution, based on Ritz energy method, is presented for the upliftin g analysis of a uniformly loaded semi-infinite beam supported on a rig id foundation. Motivated by a need to understand the effects of earthq uake-induced base uplifting in unanchored liquid-storage tanks, the so lution accounts for the nonlinearities associated with large displacem ents and material yielding in the base plate, and considers the constr aining action of the tank wall. The results are in close agreement wit h those from the ''exact'' analysis.