Tank CalculatorTank CalculatorA companion to Water Storage by Art LudwigCylindrical tank with domed roofGiven tank dimensions, determine volume and surface area, and amount of material required (for ordering concrete).Given density of tank material, determine load on ground under tank, and stress on reinforcement.The table below is set up for ferrocement (See the Water Storage book for description of the construction), steel, and plastic tanks. If you would prefer to specify your own materials and construction specs, use the "Tank Calculator (generic)" worksheet.Fill in numbers in blue under the in one or more columns. Read calculated values below.Light duty ferrocementMedium duty ferrocementHeavy duty ferrocementSteelPlasticCommentsTank volume3000.00gallons3000.00gallons3000.00gallons3000.00gallons3000.00gallonsVolume excluding space under domed roofHeight6.00feet6.00feet6.00feet6.00feet6.00feetHeight of tank walls (not roof height)Wall thickness (av)1.00inches1.25inches2.00inches0.13inches0.25inchesRoof thickness1.00inches1.00inches1.75inches0.13inches0.25inchesFloor thickness3.00inches4.00inches5.00inches0.13inches0.25inchesRoof rise/tank diameter0.10ratio0.10ratio0.10ratio0.10ratio0.10ratioRatio of roof rise to tank diameter. 0 for flat roof, 1/2 diameter for hemisphereFloor beyond walls1.00inches3.00inches5.00inches0.00inches0.00inchesDistance that floor extends beyond walls. Used only to calculate amount of material.Density of material100.00lbs/ft3100.00lbs/ft3100.00lbs/ft3300.00lbs/ft360.00lbs/ft3Used to calculate load on ground under tank.Hoop spacing6.00inches18.00inches24.00inchesN/AN/AVertical space between rebar hoops on ferrocement tank. For calculating hoop stress onlyMajor reinforcing diameter0.13inches0.38inches0.38inchesN/AN/ADiameter of reinforcing members (rebar hoops for ferrocement tank). For calculating hoop stress onlyNote that volume under roof below is in ADDITION TO to capacity above.Diameter9.23feet9.23feet9.23feet9.23feet9.23feetDiameter/ height1.54ratio1.54ratio1.54ratio1.54ratio1.54ratioVolume401.02Cubic feet401.02Cubic feet401.02Cubic feet401.02Cubic feet401.02Cubic feetVolume under roof31.24Cubic feet31.24Cubic feet31.24Cubic feet31.24Cubic feet31.24Cubic feetVolume under roof233.72Gallons233.72Gallons233.72Gallons233.72Gallons233.72GallonsTotal volume432.26Cubic feet432.26Cubic feet432.26Cubic feet432.26Cubic feet432.26Cubic feetRadius4.61Feet4.61Feet4.61Feet4.61Feet4.61FeetRoof rise0.920.92Feet0.920.920.92Circumference28.98Feet28.98Feet28.98Feet28.98Feet28.98FeetRoof area66.84Square feet66.84Square feet66.84Square feet66.84Square feet66.84Square feetWall area173.87Square feet173.87Square feet173.87Square feet173.87Square feet173.87Square feetTotal stucco area240.70Square feet240.70Square feet240.70Square feet240.70Square feet240.70Square feetFloor area69.27Square feet74.28Square feet79.46Square feet66.84Square feet66.84Square feetTotal area309.98314.98Square feet320.16307.54307.54(cylinder)307.54307.54Square feet307.54307.54307.54Roof volume5.57Cubic feet5.57Cubic feet9.75Cubic feet0.70Cubic feet1.39Cubic feetWall volume14.49Cubic feet18.11Cubic feet28.98Cubic feet1.81Cubic feet3.62Cubic feetTotal stucco volume20.06Cubic feet23.68Cubic feet38.72Cubic feet2.51Cubic feet5.01Cubic feetTotal stucco volume0.74Cubic yards0.88Cubic yards1.43Cubic yards0.09Cubic yards0.19Cubic yardsFloor volume17.32Cubic feet24.76Cubic feet33.11Cubic feet0.70Cubic feet1.39Cubic feetFloor volume0.64Cubic yards0.92Cubic yards1.23Cubic yards0.03Cubic yards0.05Cubic yardsTotal volume37.38Cubic feet48.44Cubic feet71.83Cubic feet3.20Cubic feet6.41Cubic feetTotal volume1.38Cubic yards1.79Cubic yards2.66Cubic yards0.12Cubic yards0.24Cubic yardsMaterial vol/water vol11.56ratio8.92ratio6.02ratio134.93ratio67.47ratioWeight of material3,737.68lbs4,843.99lbs7,183.14lbs961.06lbs384.43lbsWeight of water26,969.21lbs26,969.21lbs26,969.21lbs26,969.21lbs26,969.21lbsTotal weight30,706.90lbs31,813.20lbs34,152.36lbs27,930.28lbs27,353.64lbsForce on soil3.08psi2.97psi2.98psi2.90psi2.84psiForce on soil443.28psf428.31psf429.83psf417.89psf409.27psfMax hoop stress144.40psi115.52psi72.20psi1,155.22psi577.61psiRebar density0.20%%0.49%%0.23%%Max hoop stress rebar alone70,615psi23,538psi31,385psi

Tank Calculator (generic)Tank Calculator (Generic)A companion to Water Storage by Art LudwigCylindrical tank with domed roofThis sheet performs the same calculations as the previous worksheet, but allows you to define and compare your own materials. Try setting up each column with different parameters, and watch how volume of water contained, and the amount of material required changes.Given tank dimensions, determine volume and surface area, and amount of material required (for ordering concrete).Given density of tank material, determine load on ground under tank, and stress on reinforcement.Fill in numbers under the in one or more columns. Read calculated values below.Your label hereYour label hereYour label hereYour label hereYour label hereCommentsTank volumegallonsgallonsgallonsgallonsgallonsVolume excluding space under domed roofHeightfeetfeetfeetfeetfeetHeight of tank walls (not roof height)Wall thickness (av)inchesinchesinchesinchesinchesRoof thicknessinchesinchesinchesinchesinchesFloor thicknessinchesinchesinchesinchesinchesRoof rise/tank diameterratioratioratioratioratioRatio of roof rise to tank diameter. 0 for flat roof, 1/2 diameter for hemisphereFloor beyond wallsinchesinchesinchesinchesinchesDistance that floor extends beyond walls. Used only to calculate amount of material.Density of materiallbs/ft3lbs/ft3lbs/ft3lbs/ft3lbs/ft3Used to calculate load on ground under tank.Hoop spacinginchesinchesinchesVertical space between rebar hoops on ferrocement tank. For calculating hoop stress onlyMajor reinforcing diameterinchesinchesinchesDiameter of reinforcing members (rebar hoops for ferrocement tank). For calculating hoop stress onlyNote that volume under roof below is in ADDITION TO to capacity above.Diameter0.00feet0.00feet0.00feet0.00feet0.00feetDiameter/ height0.00ratio0.00ratio0.00ratio0.00ratio0.00ratioVolume0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feetVolume under roof0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feetVolume under roof0.00Gallons0.00Gallons0.00Gallons0.00Gallons0.00GallonsTotal volume0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feetRadius0.00Feet0.00Feet0.00Feet0.00Feet0.00FeetRoof rise0.000.00Feet0.000.000.00Circumference0.00Feet0.00Feet0.00Feet0.00Feet0.00FeetRoof area0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feetWall area0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feetTotal stucco area0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feetFloor area0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feet0.00Square feetTotal area0.000.00Square feet0.000.000.00(cylinder)0.000.00Square feet0.000.000.00Roof volume0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feetWall volume0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feetTotal stucco volume0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feetTotal stucco volume0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yardsFloor volume0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feetFloor volume0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yardsTotal volume0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feet0.00Cubic feetTotal volume0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yards0.00Cubic yardsMaterial vol/water vol0.00ratio0.00ratio0.00ratio0.00ratio0.00ratioWeight of material0.00lbs0.00lbs0.00lbs0.00lbs0.00lbsWeight of water0.00lbs0.00lbs0.00lbs0.00lbs0.00lbsTotal weight0.00lbs0.00lbs0.00lbs0.00lbs0.00lbsForce on soil0.00psi0.00psi0.00psi0.00psi0.00psiForce on soil0.00psf0.00psf0.00psf0.00psf0.00psfMax hoop stress0.00psi0.00psi0.00psi0.00psi0.00psiRebar density0.00%%0.00%%0.00%%Max hoop stress rebar alone0psi0psi0psi

ExamplesTank Calculator ExamplesThis sheet gives examples of using the tank calculator to compare different tanks.This table compares different ferrocement tanks of the same size, but with different rebar spacing and width/height ratioHeavy duty ferrocementCloser rebarTaller tankCommentsTank volume100000.00gallons100000.00gallons100000.00gallonsVolume excluding space under domed roofHeight8.00feet12.00feet16.00feetHeight of tank walls (not roof height)Wall thickness (av)2.25inches2.25inches2.25inchesRoof thickness1.75inches1.75inches1.75inchesFloor thickness8.00inches8.00inches8.00inchesRoof rise/tank diameter0.10ratio0.10ratio0.10ratioRatio of roof rise to tank diameter. 0 for flat roof, 1/2 diameter for hemisphereFloor beyond walls6.00inches6.00inches6.00inchesDistance that floor extends beyond walls. Used only to calculate amount of material.Density of material100.00lbs/ft3100.00lbs/ft3100.00lbs/ft3Used to calculate load on ground under tank.Hoop spacing12.00inches6.00inches6.00inchesVertical space between rebar hoops on ferrocement tankMajor reinforcing diameter0.50inches0.50inches0.50inchesDiameter of reinforcing members (rebar hoops for ferrocement tank)Note that volume under roof below is in ADDITION TO to capacity above.Diameter46.13feet37.66feet32.62feetDiameter/ height5.77ratio3.14ratio2.04ratioVolume13367.20Cubic feet13367.20Cubic feet13367.20Cubic feetVolume under roof3905.21Cubic feet2125.72Cubic feet1380.70Cubic feetVolume under roof29214.84Gallons15902.55Gallons10329.01GallonsTotal volume17272.40Cubic feet15492.92Cubic feet14747.90Cubic feetRadius23.06Feet18.83Feet16.31FeetRoof rise4.613.77Feet3.26Circumference144.89Feet118.30Feet102.45FeetRoof area1670.90Square feet1113.93Square feet835.45Square feetWall area1159.12Square feet1419.63Square feet1639.25Square feetTotal stucco area2830.02Square feet2533.56Square feet2474.70Square feetFloor area1744.13Square feet1173.87Square feet887.46Square feetTotal area4574.153707.43Square feet3362.16(cylinder)4500.923647.49Square feet3310.15Roof volume243.67Cubic feet162.45Cubic feet121.84Cubic feetWall volume217.34Cubic feet266.18Cubic feet307.36Cubic feetTotal stucco volume461.01Cubic feet428.63Cubic feet429.20Cubic feetTotal stucco volume17.07Cubic yards15.88Cubic yards15.90Cubic yardsFloor volume1162.75Cubic feet782.58Cubic feet591.64Cubic feetFloor volume43.06Cubic yards28.98Cubic yards21.91Cubic yardsTotal volume1623.76Cubic feet1211.21Cubic feet1020.84Cubic feetTotal volume60.14Cubic yards44.86Cubic yards37.81Cubic yardsMaterial vol/water vol10.64ratio12.79ratio14.45ratioWeight of material162,376.15lbs121,120.86lbs102,083.60lbsWeight of water1,077,651.79lbs966,627.23lbs920,143.92lbsTotal weight1,240,027.94lbs1,087,748.10lbs1,022,227.52lbsForce on soil4.94psi6.43psi8.00psiForce on soil710.97psf926.63psf1,151.86psfMax hoop stress427.86psi524.02psi605.09psiRebar density0.73%%1.45%%1.45%%Max hoop stress rebar alone58,846psi36,036psi41,610psiThis table compares ferrocement tanks of various sizes and parameters.Heavy duty ferrocementHeavy duty ferrocementHeavy duty ferrocementHeavy duty ferrocementHeavy duty ferrocementCommentsTank volume10000.00gallons10000.00gallons26104.00gallons27058.00gallons27684.00gallonsVolume excluding space under domed roofHeight8.00feet7.52feet8.00feet10.00feet12.00feetHeight of tank walls (not roof height)Wall thickness (av)2.00inches2.00inches2.25inches2.25inches2.25inchesRoof thickness1.75inches1.75inches2.00inches1.75inches1.75inchesFloor thickness6.00inches6.00inches6.00inches5.00inches5.00inchesRoof rise/tank diameter0.10ratio0.10ratio0.10ratio0.10ratio0.10ratioRatio of roof rise to tank diameter. 0 for flat roof, 1/2 diameter for hemisphereFloor beyond walls6.00inches6.00inches6.00inches6.00inches6.00inchesDistance that floor extends beyond walls. Used only to calculate amount of material.Density of material100.00lbs/ft3100.00lbs/ft3100.00lbs/ft3100.00lbs/ft3100.00lbs/ft3Used to calculate load on ground under tank.Hoop spacing12.00inches24.00inches12.00inches6.00inches12inchesVertical space between rebar hoops on ferrocement tankMajor reinforcing diameter0.38inches0.38inches0.50inches0.50inches0.5inchesDiameter of reinforcing members (rebar hoops for ferrocement tank)Note that volume under roof below is in ADDITION TO to capacity above.Diameter14.59feet15.05feet23.57feet21.46feet19.82feetDiameter/ height1.82ratio2.00ratio2.95ratio2.15ratio1.65ratioVolume1336.72Cubic feet1336.72Cubic feet3489.37Cubic feet3616.90Cubic feet3700.57Cubic feetVolume under roof123.49Cubic feet135.50Cubic feet520.84Cubic feet393.30Cubic feet309.64Cubic feetVolume under roof923.85Gallons1013.71Gallons3896.41Gallons2942.27Gallons2316.38GallonsTotal volume1460.21Cubic feet1472.22Cubic feet4010.21Cubic feet4010.19Cubic feet4010.21Cubic feetRadius7.29Feet7.52Feet11.78Feet10.73Feet9.91FeetRoof rise1.461.50Feet2.362.151.98Circumference45.82Feet47.26Feet74.03Feet67.41Feet62.25FeetRoof area167.09Square feet177.76Square feet436.17Square feet361.69Square feet308.38Square feetWall area366.55Square feet355.38Square feet592.22Square feet674.11Square feet746.95Square feetTotal stucco area533.64Square feet533.14Square feet1028.39Square feet1035.80Square feet1055.33Square feetFloor area190.78Square feet202.17Square feet473.97Square feet396.18Square feet340.29Square feetTotal area724.42735.30Square feet1502.361431.981395.62(cylinder)700.73710.89Square feet1464.561397.491363.71Roof volume24.37Cubic feet25.92Cubic feet72.70Cubic feet52.75Cubic feet44.97Cubic feetWall volume61.09Cubic feet59.23Cubic feet111.04Cubic feet126.40Cubic feet140.05Cubic feetTotal stucco volume85.46Cubic feet85.15Cubic feet183.74Cubic feet179.14Cubic feet185.02Cubic feetTotal stucco volume3.17Cubic yards3.15Cubic yards6.81Cubic yards6.63Cubic yards6.85Cubic yardsFloor volume95.39Cubic feet101.08Cubic feet236.99Cubic feet165.08Cubic feet141.79Cubic feetFloor volume3.53Cubic yards3.74Cubic yards8.78Cubic yards6.11Cubic yards5.25Cubic yardsTotal volume180.85Cubic feet186.24Cubic feet420.72Cubic feet344.22Cubic feet326.81Cubic feetTotal volume6.70Cubic yards6.90Cubic yards15.58Cubic yards12.75Cubic yards12.10Cubic yardsMaterial vol/water vol8.07ratio7.91ratio9.53ratio11.65ratio12.27ratioWeight of material18,085.06lbs18,623.74lbs42,072.17lbs34,421.76lbs32,681.18lbsWeight of water91,104.95lbs91,854.30lbs250,203.38lbs250,202.23lbs250,203.17lbsTotal weight109,190.00lbs110,478.04lbs292,275.55lbs284,623.98lbs282,884.36lbsForce on soil3.97psi3.79psi4.28psi4.99psi5.77psiForce on soil572.32psf546.46psf616.65psf718.42psf831.31psfMax hoop stress152.21psi147.58psi218.60psi248.83psi275.72psiRebar density0.47%%0.24%%0.73%%Max hoop stress rebar alone32,217psi62,472psi30,066psi

Ferrocement costFerrocement tank materials calculatorChange the unit costs (in blue) to calculate the total materials cost for common tank sizes. You can also use this sheet as a starting point to calculate costs for a tank of a different size by changing the quantity of each material.MaterialUnit cost5000 gal10,000 gal15,000 gal20,000 gal30,000 gal3/8 rebar (20 pieces)$3.1130$93.3050$155.5060$186.6070$217.7050$155.501/2 rebar (20 pieces)$4.98$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.0050$249.00Lath (27x8 pieces)$5.3627$144.7240$214.4050$268.0065$348.4080$428.806x6x10x10 Welded Wire Mesh (7x200 rolls)$138.001$138.001.25$172.501.5$207.002$276.002$276.001/2 Hardware cloth (4x100 rolls)$39.941$39.941.75$69.902$79.883$119.823$119.82Tie wire (big looped bundles)$2.602$5.202$5.203$7.803$7.803$7.80Cement (94 lb bags)$5.6518$101.7025$141.2532$180.8035$197.7550$282.50Plaster sand (yd3)$29.504$118.004.5$132.755.5$162.257$206.509$265.50Water (gal)$0.01500$5.00750$7.501000$10.001,250$12.501500$15.00Thoroseal/Bonsal Sure Coat (50 lb bags)$19.207$134.4010$192.0015$288.0017$326.4020$384.00Color (lbs)$2.885$14.407$20.1610$28.8012$34.5615$43.20Hog rings (25 lb boxes)37$38.40$0.00$0.001$38.401$38.402$76.80Hog ring staples (boxes of 10,000)$10.001$10.002$20.002$20.002$20.003$30.00Dobies$0.5030$15.0050$25.0065$32.5080$40.00100$50.00Poles$16.506$99.0010$165.0015$247.5020$330.0040$660.00Concrete (yd3)$91.502$183.003.5$320.254.5$411.756$549.008$732.00Approx. cost ($)1,1021,6412,1692,7253,776