Shipping Container swimming pool

[m_struct]

A client asked about using three 20 ft long shipping containers to create a 5 ft by 60 ft long above ground outdoor lap pool.
His plan is to cut off the top and some ends of the container. At the joint of the modified containers, the panels of the containers would be welded together (or expansion joint?) and a tube steel ring beam ring welded to the top. As shown below, tube steel struts would brace the ring beam and transfer the lateral loads down to the foundations. A timber deck would wrap around part of the pool while the other is exposed to direct sun.

Lateral Support of Side Walls
What is the common method for reinforcing side panels for the lateral force of water pressure? Cantilevered tube steel posts from base and tube steel ring beam at top?

Expansion-contraction joints
For an in-ground concrete pool of this length would have an expansion joint or two. What about for a steel container? While under water, the steel would be about 70-80 degrees. Out of the water, the steel could experience temps ranging from 20 degrees to 150 degrees. How is the thermal expansion dealt with? Could have an expansion joint at the container joint with a slip joint in the ring beam.

Note that the client plans to put a fiberglass liner in the pool. It is excluded from the structural scope. He was advised that the liner would need to tolerate the thermal expansion/contraction. Are these liners generally isolated/separated from the steel container?

Anchoring containers
The base of the strut braces would be fixed to the concrete. With so much gravity loads, is there any reason to fix base frame of container was well?

https://files.engineering.com/getfi...38a-a4e5-94f73dd20079&file=Container_Pool.PNG

 

[LittleInch]

It's been done before -

https://icontainerhome.com/how-build-a-shipping-container-pool/

Also containers are 8 ft wide?? Not 5 ft. Or is that depth?

Many though don't look to be 8 ft tall / deep. I suspect like the article quoted the sides of the container are your weak spot if you're building this above ground you need additional bracing longitudinally. I don't think your bracing will be sufficient unless the depth is 4ft or less. Or is this what you meant by 5ft?

How are you fixing the containers to the foundation? Fix it in the middle and let the ends slide within guides. Expansion is maybe 5-10mm.

Containers are not designed to contain liquid and the wall in particular and bottom corner joints are your weak spots.

It often sounds good to reuse containers, but I would also price up a stand alone new built pool.



Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[XR250]

I agree about pricing a new pool as well. Most shipping container projects around here end up costing the same or more than new construction.

 

[m_struct]

Thank you for the reply.

5 feet is the depth. Standard width and length of 20 ft container.

With a single container, only the top is being cut off, so still have the some structural integrity of the original units, like the end panels. With much shorter length, thermal expansion would not be such an issue.

Durability
With temperature difference on each face of side panels (direct sun vs water temp), how is the condensation (sweating steel) dealt with? Also pool liner leaking? If inside face of steel is concealed by pool lining, then did is could make it impractical to inspect for during a regular maintenance schedule.

The devil is in the detail here.