Numerical study on dynamic thermal response and failure modes of storage tanks in chemical industrial parks

doi:10.16265/j.cnki.issn1003-3033.2026.08.0925

Abstract

Abstract:

To reveal the failure mechanism of storage tanks under strong thermal loads in chemical industrial park fires, thereby providing a basis for disaster prevention and safety design, firstly, a double-layer cylindrical flame model was adopted to simulate the thermodynamic behavior of the tank surface. Secondly, combined with the artificial damping method (ADM) and the yield strength and temperature relationship in the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS), numerical analysis was conducted on the dynamic response and failure mode of the tank during a fire. Through numerical solution, the distribution of the temperature field and stress-strain field of the tank was obtained. Finally, the failure mode of the tank was determined based on the failure time, and the influence of the tank spacing, liquid level height inside the tank, and pool flame height on the failure mode of the tank was compared. The relationship between different influencing factors and failure time was quantified using the dimensionless analysis method to reveal the thermal response and failure patterns of the storage tank in the fire scenario. The results show that the failure of the tank includes buckling and yielding failure. When the tank spacing is between 12 and 21 meters, the tank undergoes buckling failure. At liquid levels of 3.56 to 8.90 meters, the tank is prone to buckling failure. When the pool fire height is between 6 and 18 meters, the tank undergoes buckling failure. When the pool flame height is 21 meters, the tank undergoes yielding failure.

Key words: chemical industrial park, storage tank, thermal response, failure mode, failure time

CLC Number:

X944.4

Chen Chao, Xiao Shenbin, Wei Lijun, Zeng Tao, Mo Li. Numerical study on dynamic thermal response and failure modes of storage tanks in chemical industrial parks[J]. China Safety Science Journal, 2026, 36(8): 95-101.

Figures/Tables 12

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