Comparative Analysis of Soil Geometry and Preloading Effects on Soil-Structure Interaction in Cylindrical Tanks

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Sinai University, Al-Arish, Egypt

Abstract

This study examines the impact of preloading on the settlement and stress resultants of cylindrical storage tanks situated on weak soils. The research uses advanced numerical modeling with PLAXIS 3D to explore various soil geometries and preloading values to find their influence on the settlement and structural behavior of the tank. The findings indicate that preloading significantly reduces both the magnitude and differential settlement, thereby enhancing the stability of the tank structure. Specifically, for the study cases under consideration, when the intensity of preloading reaches 1.5 times the design loads, the maximum settlement decreases drastically to reach only one-ninth of its original value. The study also compares the effectiveness of preloading with other settlement mitigation techniques, such as stone columns, demonstrating the superior performance of preloading. This study underscores the critical role of preloading as an effective ground improvement technique, offering valuable solutions for mitigating the settlement of circular tanks situated in weak soils, to ensure their safety and durability.

Keywords

Sinai International Scientific Journal
Volume 2, Issue 2
October 2025
Pages 37-55

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