Relevance between structure and load of LNG storage tank

With the development ofLNGindustry, LNGstorage tanks get upsizing increasingly and correspondingly the stability of its dome roof is much concerned. In this paper, a 10 000 m³ single capacityLNGstorage tank was taken as an example to investigate the effect of the storage tank and tank load on the stability of dome roof. Relevance analysis of tank structure and load was carried out on the stability of the dome roof of storage tank by means of finite element method. When the structural relevance analysis was conducted, the critical load of dome roof in the dome roof only model under different constrains was compared with that in the finite element model of complete structure with the tank. It is indicated that constraints have more effects on the stiffness of the dome roof, and the finite element model of complete structure with the tank can provide the real displacement constraints to the dome roof, so its calculation results are more reasonable. During load relevance analysis, a new analytical calculation method was proposed to analyze the effect of different tank loads on the stability of dome roof. It is revealed that the existence of tank load reduces the stability of dome roof, so it shall be fully considered when the stability of dome roof is checked. The research results can provide the theoretical basis for the study on the stability ofLNGtanks.