choosing software to design storage tanks

[ELSARWAN]

Dear Experts,
I am looking for powerful software to design petroleum storage tanks using API 650, actually I have little experience in this type of steel structures
I have to choose a good software to handle this task ,and i got offer from " AMETANK software " as the best software in this field ,is this true?
another last thing ,
we used staad pro in our company , can staad handle the design of steel storage tank or not ?
thanks in advance

 

[JStephen]

I would think a lot of that depends on exactly what you expect from the software.
With any kind of tank or vessel software, you need to be familiar with the codes it's using to make proper use of the software, so if you have little experience with tanks, it may be difficult to evaluate the software to do it. Software is a tool, but it isn't a substitute for knowledge, either.
One factor would be to what extent you're willing to change the way you design/draw/detail tanks to match the software.

One thing I notice in that software description is, one place, they say that floating roofs are supported, and then elsewhere, they don't list the API-650 appendices that deal with floating roofs as being supported. As far as I know, floating roof design is proprietary, and I'm not familiar with a publically available full design method for them.

It's not too hard to write software to reflect code requirements if those code requirements are very specific, with each equation that you need to use. Where that is not the case, as in floating roofs, you'd want to consider very carefully who is actually responsible for that design. I suspect the software people would disclaim any responsibility for the performance of products designed to their software, so it leaves you on the hook if the software errs in the design.

 

[ELSARWAN]

THX JStephen,
I really appreciate your advice and I totally agree with you about everything you mentioned , so I ask expert people here .
the second thing about your note for floating roofs, I will search in this topic ,and thx again for your professional note.

 

[nickelkid]

AMETANK works, I have only reviewed results, and am not impressed with the output in regards to organization/presentation. My experience as an initial tank designer is limited, but was accomplished by making spreadsheets to meet code requirements.

 

[zelgar]

ELSARWAN, are you planning to let a software program tell you how to design your tanks without having the personal knowledge of how tanks are designed? I'm not saying that all your calculations need to be performed by hand, but relying on software without the knowledge of what's going on or the limits of the software or the tank design can result in problems (e.g., a few years ago, I reviewed a tank integrity assessment for a hazardous waste facility. They had used UL 142 as the tank design standard for their tanks with liquids with a S.G. of 1.5. Unfortunately, UL 142 does not incorporate the S.G. of the material as it's use was for fluids with a S.G. up to 1.)