The subject of this paper is an assessment of the accuracy of a solution based on the linear theory of elasticity describing the interaction of a cylindrical reinforced concrete tank with the subsoil. The subsoil was modeled in the form of an elastic half-space and Winkler springs. The behavior of the shell structure of the RC cylindrical tank, and particularly of the ground slab interacting with the subsoil, depends largely on the distribution of the reactions on the foundation surface. An analysis of this structure with the shell fixed in a circular ground slab was carried out taking into consideration the elastic half-space model using the Gorbunov-Posadov approach and, for comparison, the two-parameter Winkler model. Although the results for both subsoil models proved to be divergent, the conclusions that follow the accuracy assessment of a solution based on the theory of elasticity are fairly important for engineering practice.

The subject of this paper is an analysis of the influence of circumferential prestressing on the interaction of cylindrical silos and tanks with the subsoil. The behaviour of the shell structures of RC and PC cylindrical silos or tanks (with circumferential pre-tensioning), and particularly of the ground slab interacting with subsoil, depends largely on the function graphs of the subsoil reactions on the foundation surface. Distributions of the subbase reactions on the ground slab in such structures as silos and tanks have a significant impact on the behaviour of not only the slab itself, but also the interacting shell structure. An analysis of these structures with walls fixed in a circular ground slab and foundation ring was carried out taking into consideration the elastic half-space model using the Gorbunov-Posadov approach and the two-parameter Winkler model. In the computational examples of RC and PC silos and tanks with walls fixed in the circular ground slab or foundation ring, the eventual effects of prestressing obtained as a result of the superposition of internal forces were examined. Although the results for both subsoil models proved to be divergent, the conclusions that follow are fairly important for the engineering practice.

An effective method for the analysis of soil-structure interaction including the behaviour of cylindrical storage tank with varying wall thickness under the action of constant thermal loading is presented. Elastic half-space and the Winkler model have been used for the description of subsoil. The soil-structure interaction is described by using the power series. A computational example of reinforced concrete tank loaded with constant temperature is given. The analysis of a hydrostatically loaded cylindrical tank performed for the model incorporating elastic half-space shows decrease of radial displacements as well as substantial changes in the distribution of bending moments when compared to the Winkler foundation. Additionally, local increase of subsoil reaction around the slab circumference is observed for the case of elastic half-space, in contrast to the Winkler model. However, in the case of a tank loaded with constant temperature, the solutions for both subsoil models do not differ significantly.