In addition to analytical studies, several experimental investigations have been conducted in recent years. These include ambient and forced vibration tests on full-scale water storage tanks [106], laboratory tests on small plastic tank models subjected to harmonic and transient excitations at their base ([249], [250]), tests with simulated earthquake ground motions of several aluminum tank models ([36], [204]), tests on constructed welded steel tanks which believed to be the largest of its kind in the world [130], and of a full-scale wine storage tank of type damaged during the 1980 earthquake in Livermore, California [203].
Several other experimental studies have also been reported. Ishada and Mieda [125] carried out a static tilt test of a model tank and a stress analysis by the finite element method in order to investigate the stress distribution in the bottom plate of an anchored cylindrical tank under the seismic loading. Manos [169] studied the behavior of a metallic cylindrical tank subjected to a horizontal earthquake loading by examining the response to horizontal Inertial loads introduced to the structure through a static tilt test. He also evaluated the performance of anchored wine tanks during the San Juan earthquake [167]. Minowa [183] conducted a shaking table test of a cylindrical tank with a spring-mass system.
Response of liquid storage tanks to impact loading was also investigated. Ruiz et al [233] combined numerical, analytical and experimental techniques to find the strength of thin-wall cylindrical shells under blast loading. Birk and Chidley [24] conducted experimental study concerned with the pressures that can be generated on the ends of cylindrical tanks by the contained liquids when the tank is suddenly accelerated along the longitudinal axis of the tank. These experimental studies have provided improved insight into the dynamic behavior of anchored tanks, and have helped to clarify the limitations of the present methods of analysis.