How dead load, live fluid load, and soil pressure set footing size and anchor bolts.
Loads the foundation must carry
A ground tank foundation transfers shell, roof, full fluid weight, and environmental loads such as wind and seismic into the soil. Each load case is calculated separately and combined with the proper safety factors.
Choosing the foundation type
| Foundation type | Best suited to | Key note |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete ring wall | Moderate-to-good bearing soil | The common choice for fixed-roof tanks |
| Full concrete slab | Weak soil or need for even load spread | Higher cost, more uniform settlement |
| Pile foundation | Very weak soil or high water table | Used for heavy tanks or coastal sites |
For horizontal pressure vessels on saddles, anchor-bolt design also has to account for the shear from thermal expansion — one saddle is usually fixed and the other designed to slide.
