Dam design calculations 3

[plastcc]

I've been tasked with designing an oil spill containment. The best design is to build a concrete wall, approx. a foot high, perpendicular to an asphalted slope of about 1:10. My PE says he threw out all of the old concrete design books, and no other references are available or authorized for purchase. I want some calculations (or a free on-line reference) so I can show myself that the wall will hold water, resist a bump from a truck, and not overturn, slide or sink. I will submit it all to my PE for his approval once I am done.

I have not had any luck finding my old school books and notes. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[CarlB]

One foot high-sounds almost like a curb. You might consider designing it like a curb, with a gutter pan about 18" wide at the surface. This is so a truck would sit on this when it bumped the wall, and it would be less likely to slide or tip.

Is this crude oil, then maybe an asphalt surface is OK. I would have thought you would need either concrete or a geomembrane.

Can't help on the structural design, but based on typical concrete dimensions I've seen you probably only need 6" thick concrete, but it should be reinforced and include contraction joints at intervals.

 

[civilperson]

Asphalt will dissolve with some hydrocarbon liquids, (gasoline, diesel, naptha, etc.). Containment is usually to EPA standards and calculations must be by PE, (any state will suffice for federal rules). Examples on website.

 

[bridgebuster]

Army Corp of Engineers: The link is to a page where you can download their manuals; several on dams.

http://www.usace.army.mil/publications/eng-manuals/

 

[cvg]

we're talking about a containment bund, not a dam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunding

If you make the wall sufficiently broad (broader than it is high) than it should not tip over. Reinforcement would be primarily for crack control.

 

[bridgebuster]

I have been known to make mistakes.

 

[plastcc]

CarlB- Yes, it is more of a curb. The pan will also make it easier to incorporate a drain. Thanks for the tip. The oil is #2 fuel oil. I will deal with the asphalt issue in the unlikely event that I have a spill.

civilperson- Thank you. I have a PE certify all of my containments upon installation and every ten years.

bridgebuster- I did check some USACE manuals on line. Thank you very much for the link. I was able to find some more useful information from the link.

cvg- Thanks for the information and saving me from over-engineering this task.

 

[bimr]

What you are talking about is secondary containment.

The usual design is a reinforced concrete wall around the tank with enough volume to contain 110% of the tank and the local jurisdiction usually approves this.

The design uses an 8" thick concrete wall, 3' high, 10" slab, and 18" footing, reinforced w/ say #4 rebar @ 12" o.c..

http://www.pdhonline.org/courses/s131/s131.htm

The asphalt is probably ok if you are not going to have any spillage during normal operations, just secondary containment. The design has to be able to hold the spill vollume long enough such that cleanup operations can be completed.

 

[bimr]

Here are some online examples of secondary contaiment"

http://datcp.state.wi.us/arm/agriculture/land-water/environ_quality/pdf/Ch03.pdf