Reported in this paper are the main features and the so far obtained results of a study, funded by the Italian National Research Council (CNR), which was undertaken in Italy in 1999 for checking the applicability of seismic isolation (SI) and energy dissipation (ED) systems to chemical plant components. The selected component was an existing spherical butane storage tank, located in a highly seismic Italian area. Simple and detailed numerical models of such a component have been developed, also taking into account sloshing effects. Suitable artificial ground acceleration time-histories, specific of the component site, were calculated following the requirements of the Italian design guidelines for isolated structures. The different partners analyzed different solutions for the anti-seismic system and dynamic analyses were performed in order to design the systems in detail and evaluate their benefits by comparison with the present situation of conventional foundations. At the end of the first step of the study the two most promising systems are proposed, and in the next step, such systems will be evaluated to select the most suitable solution for a possible retrofit of the component. In fact, should the plant owner agree, the study may lead to the first pilot application of SI or ED systems to a chemical plant component in Italy.
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