Apparatus for constructing circumerentially wrapped prestressed structures utilizing a membrane and having seismic coupling

Abstract

The present invention is directed to improved tank structures and apparatus for their construction. The walls of the prestressed tank are formed by inflating a membrane, applying one or more layers of rigidifying material outwardly of said membrane and then prestressing the walls by circumferentially wrapping prestressing material to minimize the tension in the rigidifying material when subject to loading. In another embodiment, wall forms are placed inwardly of said membrane to aid in the forming of the walls and circumferential prestressing. In the best mode of the invention, the walls are of reinforced plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic or resin sandwich composite construction this application focuses on. Seismic countermeasures which may also be used to protect the structure against earthquakes and other tremors, by the anchoring of the tank walls to the base and permitting the seismic forces to be shared by the seismic anchors. When a seismic disturbance occurs, the force acting on the structure can be transmitted and distributed to the footing and around the circumference of the tank.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.