The Effect of Rehabilitation on the Vulnerability Evolution of an RC Water Tank throughout Its Lifecycle

Abstract

In the field of civil engineering, reinforced concrete (RC) storage tanks are considered as important infrastructure that play a key role in the daily life of citizens, given their role of supply and storage of drinking water. These structures undergo regular monitoring and inspections as part of preventive maintenance programs to ensure their proper functioning and safety, as they are exposed to degradation and ageing due to natural hazards such as earthquakes, wind, and unfavorable weather. Expensive rehabilitation actions are often necessary to extend their lifecycle.In this context, a predictive model of vulnerability index evolution is developed, using a combined finite element approach with exponential extrapolation. This numerical model can predict the vulnerability evolution at any time in the lifecycle of the RC tank, following rehabilitation actions. This predictive model is successfully tested on a real case of RC storage tank located in the Tizi-Ouzou region (Algeria), and demonstrated its efficacy.

Keywords

• Vulnerability
• Concrete tanks
• Rehabilitation
• Predictive model
• Lifecycle.

References

1. Aliche, A,. Hammoum, H., Bouzelha, K., & Ider, O. (2024). The effect of rehabilitation on the vulnerability evolution of an RC water tank throughout its lifecycle. The Eurasia Proceedings of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (EPSTEM), 32, 86-92.