PSI - Issue 78

Chiara Miglietta et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 78 (2026) 309–316

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Fig. 8. Results of the monotonic test of S3: (a) load-displacement curve; (b) deformed configuration.

As specimen S2, strain gauges were positioned on the plate near the weld in both upper and lower positions. As in the previous test, the upper strain gauge recorded compressive deformations up to a load of approximately 20 kN. After this value, local buckling occurred. The upper region of the plate yielded at a load of about 8 kN, while the lower one yielded at a load of approximately 5 kN (Figure 9(a) and (b)). Figure 9(c) shows the deformed configuration at a final displacement of 67 mm.

Fig. 9. Deformations of S3 recorded by strain gauges: (a) upper strain gauge; (b) lower strain gauge; (c) detail of deformed configuration.

4. Conclusions The safety of pipe-to-tank connections during an earthquake is crucial to ensure the integrity of the tanks and prevent potential domino effects that could lead to significant damage to the environment and public security. In this study, monotonic tests on three different configurations of this type of connection were presented. The results revealed the occurrence of buckling effects when the specimen was subjected to pure shear or a combination of axial and transverse loading conditions. In both scenarios, the plate attained its yield strength at lower loads compared to the axial loading condition. Indeed, when subjected only to axial displacements, the specimen was not subject to buckling. The monotonic tests will be used to calibrate future cyclic tests. The results of the experimental campaign will provide essential data for investigating the potential failure modes of pipe-to-tank connections. Furthermore, these findings will facilitate the calibration of numerical models, thereby enhancing future parametric analyses.