In 2021 GES Tech Group was retained to evaluate a waste water Treatment plant UV facility in Denver, Colorado, that was required to be leak tested prior to being fully backfilled and prior to installation of a stabilizing diaphragm roof slab. Reinforced concrete walls were 18 to 30 inches thick and wall heights were 30 feet. Soil conditions included a surcharge due to site conditions.
Symmetry conditions were taken into consideration in a series of non-linear FEA models to evaluate the deflection and stress levels created by partial backfill and full hydrostatic pressure conditions without top of wall lateral support.
Each vessel within the combined structure was modeled separately and evaluated for deflection and surface stress levels.
