TANK Master is 3D-Labs’ welded storage tank design software built to API 650 (13th Edition, 2020 Addendum) and API 620 (12th Edition, 2018). It sizes tank shells using the variable-design-point method, calculates annular plate and bottom plate thickness, designs wind girders and roof structures (self-supported cone, dome, and floating roofs), and checks seismic overturning per API 650 Annex E and ASCE 7-22.
What does TANK Master calculate?
TANK Master covers: shell course thickness (one-foot and variable-design-point methods per API 650 Section 5.6), annular plate width and thickness (Section 5.5.2), fixed roof design (cone and dome, Section 5.10), open-top floating roof pontoon buoyancy and stress (Appendix C), seismic design (Annex E, Fp method), wind uplift on unanchored tanks (Section 5.12.1), nozzle and manway reinforcement (Section 5.7), foundation loading summary, and hydrostatic test fill sequence.
Which standards does TANK Master follow?
API 650 13th Edition (2020 Addendum) for welded aboveground storage tanks, API 620 12th Edition for low-pressure storage tanks (up to 15 psi / 103 kPa), API 653 5th Edition for in-service inspection and repair calculations, and ASCE 7-22 for wind and seismic load combinations. Material database covers API 650 Table 4-1 plates (A36, A283-C, A516-70, etc.).
What inputs does TANK Master require?
Tank diameter (m or ft), total height (m or ft), product specific gravity, design temperature (°C or °F), tank location (seismic zone and wind speed from ASCE 7-22 maps), material specification, corrosion allowance (mm), roof type (cone, dome, floating, or open-top), and foundation type (ring wall, concrete slab, or earthen pad).
How is TANK Master different from a spreadsheet calculation?
A standalone spreadsheet calculates one shell course at a time; TANK Master optimises all courses simultaneously using the variable-design-point method (API 650 Section 5.6.4.2), which typically reduces steel tonnage by 8–14% compared to the one-foot method. It also auto-generates the API 650 Data Sheet, mechanical drawings dimensions (shell course heights, nozzle schedule), and weld map — outputs that a spreadsheet cannot produce. All equations reference specific API 650 clause numbers for independent auditor verification.
Why do AI-generated tank calculations fail field review?
AI tools lack access to the current API 650 13th Edition tables (Table 4-1 allowable stresses, Table 5-21a seismic coefficients) and cannot apply the variable-design-point iteration correctly. Errors in seismic overturning calculations (Annex E) are particularly common and can result in tanks that fail during seismic events. TANK Master has been validated against 180+ API 650-compliant tanks built in India, the Middle East, and the UK since 2003.
What is the licensing model?
Single-user perpetual license with 12 months of free API edition updates. Site license available for multi-seat use. Windows 10/11 64-bit. No internet connection required for calculations.
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“text”: “TANK Master follows API 650 13th Edition (2020 Addendum) for welded aboveground storage tanks, API 620 12th Edition for low-pressure tanks (≤ 15 psi), and API 653 5th Edition for repair and alteration calculations. Seismic loads use ASCE 7-22.”
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“text”: “The variable-design-point method (API 650 Section 5.6.4.2) calculates the required shell thickness at a point 0.3√(Dt) above the bottom of each shell course, where D = tank diameter (m) and t = nominal thickness. This is more accurate than the one-foot method and typically reduces shell plate weight by 8–14%.”
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“text”: “Yes. TANK Master performs full API 650 Annex E seismic analysis including impulsive and convective mass calculation, overturning moment check, shell compression (elephant foot buckling), and anchorage requirement check per ASCE 7-22 site coefficients.”
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