Concrete Slab Thickness - Is there a general rule?

[SCKYSE]

A customer of ours wants to know how thick his concrete slab needs to be under his tank. We know nothing about the soil...all we know is that it will be a uniform load of 5000psf under a steel base that is 11'-0" in diameter. i am just looking for a general rule of thumb, or chart that can be used assuming good soil conditions and reinforced concrete. It is all just general, and then customer knows that a Civil Eng. will have to be on site to determine exactly what is required. please help and thanks!

 

[cvg]

are you sure you need a slab? What about a ring wall?

 

[SCKYSE]

the customer is actually getting 4 of these tanks and would like to pour 1 large pad

 

[civilperson]

This eighty foot tall tank needs more than a rule of thumb for size estimation. Seismic loads and soil types could change the answer by a factor of three. The area of bearing could be three times the area of the tank or require piles, soil improvement, stone columns or a combination methods.

 

[civilperson]

After reflection and assuming poor bearing capacity, low seismic forces, 90 mph winds: I would estimate a slab 21" thick, 40 foot square for the four proposed tanks.

 

[cvg]

thread256-100291
thread194-87532

check out these threads. Suggest either compacted granular material or ring wall.

 

[rmadrid]

prepare a soils study and have a structural engnineer design the slab. You will save yourself the headache and avoid any law suits

 

[mytu]

To have just one pad for the 4 tanks is quite cost due that tanks have to have a separation according with NFPA if the tanks are for combustible or any other inflammable liquid. The concrete slab is recommended for low bearing capacity of soil . It has to be calculated by structural Eng for steel and thick, usually 1 feet and steel located in radial position.

 

[Mixtli]

If you are an Engineer you should know that this requires an engineered solution, there are no thumb rule solutions in engineering