Abstract: Based on the measured data, the reliability and effectiveness of the numerical analysis on the response of large tank structure are verified. Base on this, the buckling analysis of no-liquid storage tank is carried out, and the results show that there is no tilt settlement to destabilize the structure of no-load storage tank in reality. Furthermore, the critical tilt settlement is analyzed in variable liquid levels. Meanwhile the liquid level rises, the critical settlement value will also change, among which the critical settlement of full-liquid level is the lowest but even higher than the specification-value. At different liquid levels, the maximum deformation region corresponding to the critical settlement is quite different, and the maximum stress and position are also different. According to the comprehensive analysis, when the liquid level is lower, the tilt settlement of the storage tank is mainly manifested as rigid body rotation, so the radial deformation and tilt settlement are linear, and the maximum stress value and region change little. At high liquid level, the additional bending moment caused by the static pressure difference caused by tilt causes the radial deformation zone of the tank to be no longer symmetrical, and the maximum stress keeps rising, and the position is different from that of the lower liquid level. In view of this, not only the control scope of inclined settlement should be revised timely in combination with engineering practice, but also the tank liquid level should be kept at a reasonable level to ensure its integrity.

Key words: measured data, numerical analysis, buckling, tilt settlemen, variable liquid levels, critical settlement