An analytical formula for elastic–plastic instability of large oil storage tanks

Abstract Assuming axisymmetric buckling and according to the adjacent equilibrium criterion, a buckling critical stress formula of a perfect tank wall is first obtained through analysis of elastic–plastic buckling carried out by J 2 plastic flow theory. Furthermore, combining the current tank seismic design standards and the results obtained in this paper, a new critical buckling stress formula of the tank wall is derived after correction for material plasticity by introducing a plasticity influence coefficient. Comparisons between the results obtained and those from the relevant formulas in the design standards of America, Japan, China and Europe are also performed. Our research shows that under interaction of high hydraulic and axial compression, the material properties of the tank wall change rapidly, and the buckling strength of the tank wall also decreases rapidly. The relation between the tank wall buckling critical stress and the hydraulic pressure is similar to Rotter's semi-empirical formula. The results presented in this paper can provide technical support in further protection of large oil storage tanks.