Cause analysis on a buried tank uplifting accidents and relevant countermeasures

In view of a buried tank uplifting accident, this paper analyzes the cause of the accident based on the basic structure of the buried tank, and discusses countermeasures accordingly. Relevant calculation is carried out according to the stress analysis of the emptied tank. Results show that to uplift buried tanks of nominal capacity of 1 000 m³, 2 000 m³, 3 000 m³, 5 000 m³ and 10 000 m³, it is only required that the water collection height and water collection volume in the tank chamber should reach 0.232 m, 0.223 m, 0.231 m, 0.218 m and 0.234 m and 3.636 m³, 4.367 m³, 5.290 m³, 6.356 m³ and 8.921 m³ respectively, and even if the drain valve is totally open, when the water intake rate of the tank chamber exceeds 30 m³/h, the emptied tank will be uplifted. Therefore, the paper proposes countermeasures for uplifting accidents in following aspects, including complete transformation, drainage leakage repair, strengthening management and design & construction, etc.