Abstract
<jats:p>This study comprehensively considered the issue of improving the roofing structures of vertical cylindrical steel tanks for storing oil and oil products under conditions of high external load. Such tanks are widely used in the energy and oil and gas industries, so their strength and reliability are of particular importance for production safety. Currently, tanks mainly use conical and spherical roofs. However, each of them has its own advantages and limitations. Although conical roofs are easy to manufacture and install, they are susceptible to asymmetric accumulation of snow mass and eccentric loads in large diameter tanks. While spherical roofs can effectively distribute the load, the complexity of their manufacturing preparation and metal losses are relatively high. The main goal of the study is to ensure the reliability of the overall structure while increasing the bearing capacity of the roof, as well as the economical use of material. During the study, the effect of aerodynamic and static loads on the roof surface was calculated, the nature of changes in snow and wind loads over time was studied. As a result of calculations, it was found that in traditional conical tents there is a concentration of stress, especially when exposed to high snow load. This, in turn, reduces the life of the structure and increases the risk of plastic deformations. Based on the results obtained, a hybrid roof structure reinforced with spherical elements was proposed. Such a structure evenly distributes the load and reduces the eccentric effect caused by asymmetric fall of the snow mass. In addition, spherical reinforcing elements increase the rigidity of the roof and limit deformation. According to research results, hybrid tents demonstrate high resistance to snow load up to 25-30%compared to traditional designs. The proposed engineering solution will not only increase the strength and reliability of tanks, but also increase their service life and reduce the frequency of maintenance. In addition, this approach will save construction materials and increase overall economic efficiency. Thus, the research results are an important scientific and practical direction for improving the infrastructure for storing oil and oil products.</jats:p>