TRANSPORTATION

No load combination, however se-
vere, will ensure that collapse will nev-
er occur because there is always a prob-
ability, however small, that the design
loads will be exceeded or the strength
overestimated. The assumption on
which the new API 650 load combina-
tions is based is that the risk of failure
for any combination of loads is no
more or less than for any other.
API recognized, however, that tanks
built to recent API 650 editions have
performed satisfactorily. While the in-
tent was to align tank performance
based on constant risk for components, design load combinations are estimates
therefore, some load combinations
were adjusted to account for satisfacto-
ry historical performance.
This uniform reliability (or risk, to
the pessimist) can be accomplished by
adapting load combinations from ASCE
7. This has two sets of load combina-
tions, one intended for strength design
(in Section 2.3) and one for allowable
stress design (in Section 2.4).
The ASCE 7 strength-design load
combinations are based on statistical
studies, whereas the allowable-stress-
without much justification.
Therefore, ASCE’s strength-design
load combinations (Section 2.3.2; see
Section A, first set of load combinations
in the accompanying box were used to
develop the API load combinations.
A 0.5 factor is allowed by ASCE 7
2.3.2 Note 1 when the live load is less
than 100 psf (0.69 psi). The live load
for tanks is internal pressure (limited to
2.5 psi in 650 Appendix F) or external
pressure (limited to 5.2 psf). Since in-
ternal pressures greater than 0.69 psi

Load combinations and calculations

A. ASCE 7 strength-design load combinations
1. 1.4(DL + F) Long-term loads
2. 1.2(DL + F + T) + 1.6(L + H) + 0.5(Lr or S or R) Live load
3. 1.2 DL + 1.6(Lr or S or R) + (0.5L or 0.8W) Roof load
4. 1.2 DL + 1.6W + 0.5L + 0.5(Lr or S or R) Wind
5. 1.2 DL + 1.0E + 0.5L + 0.2S Seismic
6. 0.9 DL + 1.6 W + 1.6 H Overturning from wind
7. 0.9 DL + 1.0E + 1.6 H Overturning from seismic

B. Revised ASCE 7 strength-design load combinations

1. 1.4(DL + F) Long-term loads
2. 1.2(DL + F) + 1.6P + 0.5(Lr or S) Live loads
3. 1.2 DL + 1.6(Lr or S) + (0.5P or 0.8W) Roof loads
4. 1.2 (DL + F) + 1.6W + 0.5P + 0.5(Lr or S) Wind loads
5. 1.2 (DL + F) + 1.0E + 0.5P + 0.2S Seismic loads

C. API load combinations when ASCE load factors are divided by 1.4
Allowable stress; API load combinations Strength design; ASCE load combinations
1. DL + F 1. 1.4(DL + F)
2. 0.9(DL + F) + 1.1P + 0.4(Lr or S) 2. 1.2(DL + F) + 1.6P + 0.5(Lr or S)
3. 0.9 DL + 1.1(Lr or S) + (0.4P or 0.6W) 3. 1.2 DL + 1.6(Lr or S) + (0.5P or 0.8W)
4. 0.9 DL + 0.9 F + 1.1W + 0.4P + 0.4(Lr or S) 4. 1.2 (DL + F) + 1.6W + 0.5P + 0.5(Lr or S)
5. 0.9 DL + 0.9 F + 0.7E + 0.4P + 0.1S 5. 1.2 (DL + F) + 1.0E + 0.5P + 0.2S

D. Pressure substitutions in load combinations

1. DL + F
2a. 0.9(DL + F) + 1.1Pi + 0.4(Lr or S)
2b. 0.9(DL + F) + 1.1Pe + 0.4(Lr or S)
3a. 0.9 DL + 1.1(Lr or S) + (0.4Pi or 0.6W)
3b. 0.9 DL + 1.1(Lr or S) + (0.4Pe or 0.6W)
4a. 0.9 DL + 0.9 F + 1.1W + 0.4Pi + 0.4(Lr or S)
4b. 0.9 DL + 0.9 F + 1.1W + 0.4Pe + 0.4(Lr or S)
5a. 0.9 DL + 0.9 F + 0.7E + 0.4Pi + 0.1S
5b. 0.9 DL + 0.9 F + 0.7E + 0.4Pe + 0.1S

E. Discarding load combinations that counteract

1. DL + F
2a. 0.9(DL + F) + 1.1Pi + 0.4(Lr or S) Roof gravity loads counteract internal pressure.
2b. 0.9(DL + F) + 1.1Pe + 0.4(Lr or S) Fluid counteracts external pressure and roof loads.

66 Oil & Gas Journal / Dec. 15, 2003

are rare in API 650 tanks, the 0.5 factor
is used.
These combinations are modified for
tanks because tanks experience slightly
different loads than buildings. The ASCE
7 rain load (R) and self-straining load
such as thermal (T) are not applied in
API 650.
Also in Section B, the pressure load
P replaces the live load L in combina-
tions stressing the tank. Fluid load F is
added (where underlined) to the ASCE
load combinations in which it is im-
plied but not stated. Load Combina-
tions 6 and 7 from the initial set of
combinations (Section A) are overturn-
ing stability checks, but ASCE 7 does
not address fluid loads in these checks.
Because API 650 Appendix E on seis-
mic loads is currently being revised, the
seismic overturning load combination is
left for that study to determine. The
overturning check for wind is addressed
presently. Therefore, Combinations 6
and 7 are not considered further.
The resulting, revised load combina-
tions appear as the second set (Section B).
Stresses in the structure from these
revised load combinations are not to
exceed the design stresses of the mem-
bers. The ASCE 7 strength-design load
combinations assign higher design
stresses (
S) to members than does API
650’s allowable-stress design method.
Both methods require the same size
members with the same level of safety,
however, if the strength-design load
factors are appropriately reduced when
used with API 650’s allowable stress
methodology. The reduction factor is
determined from the load combination
for fluid load F (Combination 1 with

3a. 0.9DL + 1.1(Lr or S) + (0.4Pi or 0.6W)
3b. 0.9DL + 1.1(Lr or S) + (0.4Pe or 0.6W)
4a. 0.9(DL + F) + 1.1W + 0.4Pi + 0.4(Lr or S)
4b. 0.9(DL + F) + 1.1W + 0.4Pe + 0.4(Lr or S)
0.9 DL + 1.1W + 0.4Pe + 0.4(Lr or S)
0.9 DL + 1.1W + 0.4Pe + 0.4(Lr or S)
5a. 0.9 DL + 0.9 F + 0.7E + 0.4Pi + 0.1S
5b. 0.9 DL + 0.9 F + 0.7E + 0.4Pe + 0.1S
Internal pressure and wind counteract roof loads.
Wind counteracts roof loads and external pressure.
Roof gravity loads counteract wind and pressure uplift.
Becomes two cases:
Roof loads don’t affect shell compression.
Wind uplift counteracts Pe and roof loads.
Internal pressure and seismic add on anchors.
External pressure is not a factor for vertical shell compression.

F. Resulting combinations
1. DL + F Shell - hoop tension
2a. 0.9 DL + 0.9F + 1.1Pi Shell - hoop tension
2b. 0.9 DL + 1.1Pe + 0.4(Lr or S) Roof - downward load; Shell - vertical compression.
3a. 0.9 DL + 1.1(Lr or S) Roof - downward load
3b. 0.9 DL + 1.1(Lr or S) + 0.4Pe Roof - downward load
4a. 0.9 DL + 1.1W + 0.4Pi Roof - uplift
4b1. 0.9 DL + 1.1W + 0.4Pe Shell - hoop compression
4b2. 0.9 DL + 0.4Pe + 0.4(Lr or S) Roof - downward load
5. 0.9 DL + 0.9 F + 0.7E + 0.4Pi + 0.1S Shell - vertical compression, Anchors - tension

G. Grouping combinations according to affected tank component

1. DL + F Shell - hoop tension
2a. 0.9 DL + 0.9F + 1.1Pi Shell - hoop tension
5. 0.9 DL + 0.9 F + 0.7E + 0.4Pi + 0.1S Shell - vertical compression; anchor bolts
2b. 0.9 DL + 1.1Pe + 0.4(Lr or S) Shell - vertical compression
4b1. 0.9 DL + 1.1W + 0.4Pe Shell - hoop compression
2b. 0.9 DL + 1.1Pe + 0.4(Lr or S) Roof - downward load
3a. 0.9 DL + 1.1(Lr or S) Roof - downward load
3b. 0.9 DL + 1.1(Lr or S) + 0.4Pe Roof - downward load
4b2. 0.9 DL + 0.4Pe + 0.4(Lr or S) Roof - downward load
4a. 0.9 DL + 1.1W + 0.4Pi Roof – uplift

H. Loads after adjustments, eliminating redundant combinations

Combination
2a. DL + F + Pi
4a. DL + W + 0.4Pi
2a. DL + Pi
4b1. DL + W + 0.4Pe
3b. DL +(Lr or S) + 0.4Pe
2b. DL + Pe + 0.4(Lr or S)
5. DL + F + 1.0E + 0.4Pi + 0.1S
Component checked API 650 Appendix letter
Shell - hoop tension (a)
Roof - compression ring (c)
Roof - compression ring (this is the same as
the shell check but with fluid load F absent)
Shell - hoop compression (d)
Roof - downward load (e)(1)
Roof - downward load (e)(2)
Shell - vertical compression; anchor bolts (f)

Oil & Gas Journal / Dec. 15, 2003 67