Investigation of the load factors used in construction of water and wastewater concrete tanks

本项目的目的是通过一系列的非线性有限元分析(FEA)来更好地了解水混凝土水箱的结构性能。为了制作准确的模型，J.L.Richards将提供所有需要的数据(材料特性、尺寸、钢筋)，以便对现有的(我们将考虑混凝土劣化的)和新的钢筋混凝土水箱/废水池进行建模和分析。J.L.Richards目前对建造水和废水(液体保持)混凝土池所使用的荷载系数感兴趣。目前所有施工人员使用的荷载系数均基于加拿大国家建筑规范(NBC)的规定(静荷载=1.25，活荷载=1.5)。然而，由于水和废水混凝土水箱不是典型的建筑，J.L.理查兹希望调查当前使用的荷载系数是否过于保守，从而导致过度设计混凝土水箱。该项目旨在通过寻找最有希望的设计荷载组合来解决这一行业特有的问题，从而实现安全而又不保守的设计解决方案。这项研究产生的科学数据将使J.L.Richards的成员能够以更低的要求和成本设计安全的水/废水混凝土水箱。

The objective of this project is to better understand the structural behaviour of water concrete tanks through a series of nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA). To produce accurate models J.L. Richards will provide all needed data (material properties, dimensions, reinforcement) in order to model and then analyze both existing (where we will consider the deterioration of concrete) and new reinforced concrete water/wastewater tanks. J.L. Richards is currently interested in the load factors used in the construction of water and wastewater (liquid retaining) concrete tanks. The load factors that all constructors currently use are based on the provisions from the National Building Code of Canada (NBC) (Dead load=1.25 and Live load=1.5). However, as the water and wastewater concrete tanks are not typical buildings, J.L. Richards wants to investigate if the currently used load factors are being overly conservative which then leads to results that over-design the concrete tanks. This project aims at solving this industry-specific problem by finding the most promising design load combinations that lead to safe and at the same time not conservative design solution. The scientific data resulting from this study will allow the J.L. Richards's members to design safe water/wastewater concrete tanks with decreased requirements and cost.