Product Overview:
This tutorial explores the simulation of water sloshing in buried concrete tanks subjected to seismic loading using Abaqus. Earthquakes have historically caused significant disruptions and losses to human society, making them one of the most severe natural disasters. Globally, approximately 500 million earthquakes occur each year, with magnitudes of 6 or higher occurring 100-200 times and magnitudes of 7 or higher around 18 times. Although earthquake loads are typically considered in design, conventional analyses rely on simplified theories developed for retaining walls at ground level with rigid foundations. However, these methods become less effective when structures are built below the ground surface in deep soil layers. The tank, soil, and water are all modeled as 3D solid components.

To model the soil’s behavior, Mohr-Coulomb plasticity and elasticity properties are used. The water is defined using the Us-Up equation of state, while the concrete tank utilizes the Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model. A dynamic explicit step is implemented to analyze the water sloshing during the earthquake event. Surface-to-surface contact is applied between the water and tank, with a non-zero friction coefficient, and the interaction between the soil and concrete tank is also defined as a surface-to-surface contact with appropriate contact properties. Fixed boundary conditions are set at the bottom surface of the soil part. During the first step, acceleration is applied to the soil, and geostatic stress is assigned to the soil as a predefined field. A refined mesh is necessary to achieve accurate results. Upon completing the simulation, results such as water sloshing behavior, pressure distribution, stress, and displacement of all parts are available for review.

Key Topics:

• Layer Definition: Learn how to create distinct layers of soil with varying properties and thicknesses for a more accurate representation.
• Boundary Conditions: Master the techniques on how to set appropriate boundary conditions that mimic natural and engineered environments.
• Load Application: Best practices for applying varying load scenarios and assessing their impact on the entire structure.
• Analysis and Reporting: Guidance on analyzing the simulation results and producing meaningful reports.