LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Earns PhD with Above-Ground Storage Tank Research

This year marks 20 years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita impacted South Louisiana, forever changing the area’s landscape and exposing engineering failures that contributed to the catastrophic flooding. These floodwaters not only caused levees to collapse, but also lifted above-ground storage tanks (ASTs) off of their foundation, causing them to float and collide with other objects, leading to oil leaks and spills. LSU Civil & Environmental Engineering PhD graduate Md Manik Mia researched the performance of ASTs during flood events and came up with improvements to the tanks that would protect them from leakage and, in turn, protect the environment and industry.

“My work highlights practical design improvements to mitigate spillage risks and improve flood resilience, with direct implications for Louisiana’s industry and environment,” Mia said. “These tanks, which are integral to the petrochemical industry, have been highly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as hurricanes and floods, often leading to catastrophic oil spills.”

During Katrina and Rita in 2005, AST failures resulted in more than 30 million liters of oil being released, causing significant environmental damage. A single tank failed in a highly populated area in St. Bernard Parish releasing 3.8 million liters of crude oil, rendering 1,700 houses uninhabitable with a total cleanup cost of around $330 million.

“Such spills have long- and short-term adverse effects on surrounding environment and natural habitat as well as negative effects on mental and physical wellbeing of surrounding communities,” Mia said. “Despite the critical nature of these risks, existing research lacked probabilistic fragility models and detailed assessments of specific failure mechanisms, including bottom plate and relative vulnerability of AST components during floods.”

"The integrity of above-ground storage tanks during floods is not just an engineering challenge; it’s a crucial factor in preventing environmental disasters, protecting homes, and ensuring industry resilience."

LSU Civil & Environmental Engineering PhD graduate Md Manik Mia

Key findings from Mia’s research were that current codes and standards for bottom plate thickness were possibly inadequate, as larger diameter tanks are prone to failure at low inundation depths. His study also highlighted how strategic pipeline configurations can drastically improve resistance to sliding, reducing the risk of hazardous spills. Interestingly, while anchoring tanks helps prevent flotation, it can unintentionally make bottom plates more susceptible to failure than the tank shell in certain flood conditions. Mia’s study also examined debris impacts, finding that common debris such as wood logs and steel pipes didn’t cause significant stress, and the stresses were well below the yield strength of the tank materials.

“The integrity of above-ground storage tanks during floods is not just an engineering challenge; it’s a crucial factor in preventing environmental disasters, protecting homes, and ensuring industry resilience,” Mia said. “My research provides practical solutions that enhance the safety and reliability of ASTs, ultimately reducing spill risks and minimizing the long-term impacts of extreme weather events on communities and ecosystems.”