This elevated tank is the largest prestressed concrete tank in the United States designed and built by The Crom Corporation, Gainesville, Florida. Design elements include a mat foundation, pedestal, transition between the pedestal to inner floor cone to outer cone, inner floor cone, outer cone wall, top cylindrical wall and free span dome.

Each of these shapes taken by themselves could rather easily be analyzed by classical analysis methods such as provided by Thimoshenko’s Theory of Plates and Shells. However, due to the complicated interfaces between the various elements, finite-element analysis was used as the principal analysis tool. However, initial member sizes were estimated using classical analysis methods. Also, where applicable, classical method calculations were used to verify finite-element results.

STAAD.Pro was used for the finite element analysis, both static and dynamic. The results provided by STAAD.Pro correlated closely to classical analysis in those areas of the structure where such analysis could be used. In addition, the finite element analysis by STAAD.Pro provided the results required to design the interfaces between each of the classical shell elements. STAAD.Pro was also invaluable in analyzing and designing the circumferential and meridional prestressing strands by an iterative process.

STAAD.Pro dynamic response spectrum analysis was also used in designing the elevated structure for seismic loadings.