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Civil Engineering/Load bearing strength of steel tube filled with compressed water

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Expert: - 2/3/2011


Question
Designing a mast made from steel tubing. Is there any data or published literature on what effect on load bearing, particularly lateral load bearing of a steel tube completely filled with water [absolutely no air filled voids or bubbles]. I presume the inclusion of compressed/fully contained water would add strength. Is there a formula to describe the lateral deflection of such a cantilver composite [i.e.steel tube + water infill] beam with lateral loading at far end

Answer
Hi David,

That's an interesting concept, which I have not come across before. Looking at it from first principles, as water is more compressible than steel, I do not think there will be any direct enhancement of vertical load capacity, apart from perhaps the X-sectional area x pressure of water.

However, I would imagine that the water pressure may assist the tube against local buckling inwards (due to radial pressure outwards), so that may indirectly increase the load carrying capacity of the tube in axial compression and possibly in bending, but I do not have any references for that.

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Arshad Khan

Expertise

I can answer any questions to do with civil and structural engineering consultancy and construction industry in East Africa and the Middle East, and specifically with the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. My particular expertise is in the aseismic design and optimisation of tall buildings.

Experience

Employment history: 36 years in Construction and consultancy in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia, Austria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and the U.A.E.

Organizations
.Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) .Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK) .Member of the Institution of Engineers, Kenya .Registered Engineer, ERB, Kenya .Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Engineers Chapter) .Chartered Engineer (UK)

Publications
•1984: International Conference on the Art and Practice of Structural Design, London •1994: 3rd Int. Kerensky Conference in Structural Engineering, Singapore •2008: International Conference on High-Rise Towers, Abu Dhabi

Education/Credentials
BSc, 1st Class Hons, in Building Engineering, University of Bath, UK MSc in Concrete Structures and Technology, University of London. Diploma of Imperial College, UK.

Awards and Honors
•Science Congress Special Award (for 2-seater Hovercraft - 1968) •Institution of Civil Engineers Award for outstanding performance at Bath University (1975) •Concrete Society Postgraduate study Bursary Award (1976) •Consular Representative for British High Commission, Nairobi. (1995 to 1998) •Examiner for Institution of Civil Engineers Professional Interviews, Nairobi. (1997 to 1998) •Branch Representative in Vienna for PI assessment for Inst. of Struct. Engrs. (1999 to date)

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