This paper illustrates an example of seismic analysis of a thin wall cylindrical tank used in the wine industry. A FEM-based approach, based on response spectrum analysis, is used to simulate the seismic response of the tank/liquid system to horizontal earthquake action. The tank/liquid system is modeled by shell elements and displacement-based fluid elements, respectively. Simulations results are compared with estimations given by Eurocode 8 (Part 4), according to two different approaches: a simplified lumped dynamic model by Malhotra, a FEM-based static analysis with the hydrodynamic pressure computed by Eurocode 8. The different approaches are shown to provide a general agreement for the shear and overtuning moment at the tank base. Elastic and elasto-plastic buckling of the tank wall is finally assessed with the stress values calculated by the previous approaches.
