KEVOS® MAKEOS · Strength
Vertical Storage Tank Shell Thickness by Course
How thick must each shell course of this vertical liquid storage tank be, and what does the shell weigh?
Shell plate thickness for an open-top or low-pressure vertical cylindrical storage tank under its liquid head, course by course, by the widely used one-foot method (API 650 style) with joint efficiency, corrosion allowance and a minimum thickness, with tank capacity and shell steel mass — for preliminary comparison.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Tank diameter | m | Nominal tank diameter. |
| Design liquid height | m | Height from the bottom to the design liquid level (top of shell or overflow). |
| Specific gravity of the liquid | Specific gravity of the stored liquid (1.0 for water; use the test water case too). | |
| Allowable stress | MPa | Allowable stress of the shell plate. |
| Joint efficiency | Joint efficiency of the vertical welds. | |
| Corrosion allowance | mm | Corrosion allowance. |
| Minimum shell thickness | mm | Minimum nominal thickness for the tank diameter (from the tank standard). |
| Course (plate) height | m | Height of each shell course. |
| Steel density | kg/m³ | Density of the shell steel. |
Method and formulas
- One-foot method: t = 4.9 D (H − 0.3) G ÷ (S E) + CA (t in mm, D and H in m, S in MPa), with H the liquid height above the bottom of the course.
- Each course thickness is at least the minimum thickness.
- Capacity = π D² ÷ 4 × liquid height; shell mass = Σ π D × course height × thickness × density.
- Example: a 20 m × 12 m water tank needs 9.9309 mm at the bottom course and holds 3,769.9 m³.
Limitations
- Preliminary comparison only; storage tanks must be designed to the applicable standard (API 650, AS 1692, EN 14015) with wind, seismic, roof and bottom design.
- Shell stability and openings are not covered.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Estimate plate thicknesses for a water or oil tank
- Compare tank diameter and height options by steel weight
- Check an existing tank for a heavier liquid
Who it is for
- Mechanical engineers
- Estimators
- Plant engineers
What you get
- Thickness of each course
- Tank capacity
- Shell steel mass
Interpreting the result
- Thickness grows with diameter and depth: a wider, lower tank is not always lighter once the minimum thickness governs the upper courses.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 290–294, 3021–3026. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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Open the Vertical Storage Tank Shell Thickness by Course calculator
