In this study, an externally reinforced structural system for SMC(Sheet Molding Compound) panel water tank, designed according to the Japanese design code, is experimented to evaluate its seismic performance. The test tank is 3m long, 2m wide and 3m high, considering the capacity and size of the shaking table. The measured hydrodynamic pressures are found to be approximately 70% of the Japanese design code values. It may be partially due to the convex shape effect of the unit panels. The analytical results of externally reinforced system based on the measured dynamic water pressures are found in good agreement with the test results. If the design hydrodynamic pressures are estimated properly, the proposed analytical model for the externally reinforced water tank becomes a useful design tool and the Japanese design code is found to provide a safe design for the external frames of SMC panel water tank.

Based on the study of considering thickness and diameter of the panel it was found that bigger the diameter of panel more efficient for support the water pressure and less displacement. It was found that rise depth had little influence for stress and displacement at small embossed panel. Also the biggest stress occured along the side of the embossed panel.

The water tanks are widely used for the safe storage of potable water, which are installed on either the basement or the top floor inside of the buildings. Therefore, the water tank systems assembled with many unit panels are generally adopted and the rectangular plan water tanks are most popular. To resist the water pressure acting on the side walls of tanks the internally reinforced system using metal tie-bars has been most commonly used. However, many problems related to the lattice internal reinforcement system require the development of the externally reinforced water tank, which does not have any latticed tie bars inside the tank. In this study two different systems have been developed using the external steel frames with either the SMC water tank panels or the PosMAC(coated steel) water tank panels. The experimental tests have been performed under the static hydraulic loadings as well as the seismic loadings through the shaking table test.