CaltechTHESIS
  A Caltech Library Service

Hydrodynamic Forces Induced in Fluid Containers by Earthquakes

Citation

Conrad, Allan (1956) Hydrodynamic Forces Induced in Fluid Containers by Earthquakes. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/JYF8-KK15. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-03222004-162041

Abstract

This thesis describes an experimental method of measuring the hydrodynamic forces induced in fluid containers when the containers are subjected to varying accelerations. Experiments were performed on a model of a rectangular tank and the forces due to the convective pressures were measured and compared to those predicted by a simplified linear theory in which the fluid system is reduced to a system of simple oscillators. An investigation was made to determine the limit of applicability of this simplified theory and to observe the effect of the non-linearity of the fluid motion on the predicted forces. It was found that the natural frequency of vibration diverged significantly from that for small amplitudes when the amplitude to depth ratio exceeded 0.05. The force-amplitude relation remained essentially constant for amplitude to depth ratios up to 0.20 An electric analog computer was used to compute the dynamic shear forces induced in a typical water tower structure when its base was subjected to the ground accelerations of an actual earthquake. The effect of varying the tower stiffness, on the shear forces induced, was also studied and the results were compared with a modal type of solution. It was found that the modal type of solution gave good results and it is recommended for analyzing earthquake forces on elevated water tanks when an analog computer is not available.

Item Type:Thesis (Engineer's thesis)
Subject Keywords:Civil Engineering
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Civil Engineering
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Housner, George W.
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:1 January 1956
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-03222004-162041
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-03222004-162041
DOI:10.7907/JYF8-KK15
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:1051
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:23 Mar 2004
Last Modified:13 Jul 2023 17:25

Thesis Files

[img]
Preview
PDF (conrad_a_1956.pdf) - Final Version
See Usage Policy.

1MB

Repository Staff Only: item control page