Parametric study and optimization of water-tanks

Abstract

The study aims to improve the optimization of the resources required to the design and construction of water tanks. The criteria and methodology proposed by the standards and studies is analyzed and have contributed to develop the structural design and the associated parametric study. Likewise, the methodology applied to develop the environmental analysis; Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is addressed. The present work consists of two studies that has been developed at the same time and which complement each other. The structural and the environmental study conducted by an interdisciplinary group from two universities: Universitat Autònoma de Catalunya (UAB), in terms of the environmental study; and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) for implementing the structural analysis. Regarding to the structural part, the study carried out consists in analyzing the rectangular and cylindrical reinforced concrete tanks in order to optimize the materials required to meet with the criteria established for its structural design. The parametric study was carried out thanks to a program developed in the present work and designed in accordance with the actual codes. The program calculates the amounts of materials required for the design and construction of reinforced concrete reservoirs, especially the amount of armor to deal with the efforts and the amount of concrete. One program for each tank typology has been developed, one for the rectangular configuration and another for the cylindrical typology. In the environmental analysis, the several indicators and the impacts generated by each case structurally analyzed, in terms of materials consumption, have been studied. The LCA plays an important role to provide the criteria in order to choose the optimal configuration between the different solutions. Finally, general and particular conclusions from the studies developed are presented.