Design and Construction of Circular and Vertical Prestressed Concrete Digester

This paper discusses the design and construction processes of the 15 000 m³ post-tensioned concrete digesters of the Atotonilco Water Treatment Plant in Mexico. It introduces the project with a brief description of the Plant, which is the biggest in the world, and focuses on the structural challenges faced by the engineers during the design and construction phases, and what was done to resolve these issues regarding the tanks.

The design and construction of circular prestressed concrete structures for liquid storage using tendons requires specialized engineering knowledge and experience. This challenging design was solved by a double post-tensioned system placed into the wall, both circumferential and vertical, which assures the structural integrity of the tank under the design loads, compatible with the desired fast methods of construction for the 30 digesters of the Plant.