News Pick
Storage Tank Design & Finite Element Analysis: An Overlooked Engineering Domain
Read how these domains are quietly shaping industrial safety, efficiency and next-gen engineering careers
When people think of engineering careers, images of coding, automobiles, or flashy consumer tech often come to mind. Yet, quietly powering industries like oil and gas, chemicals, infrastructure and energy is a highly specialised field few students talk about — storage tank design and finite element (FE) analysis.
This niche domain blends mechanical engineering, software expertise and structural analysis, making it both technically demanding and deeply relevant to real-world industrial needs.
What is storage tank design?
Storage tanks are critical components used to safely store liquids and gases — from crude oil and fuel to chemicals and water. Designing these tanks isn’t just about shape and size. Engineers must account for:
- Pressure and load conditions
- Temperature variations
- Seismic activity
- Material behaviour
- Safety and compliance standards
A single design flaw can lead to massive financial losses or environmental risks, making precision non-negotiable.
Where FE analysis comes in
Finite Element (FE) analysis allows engineers to digitally simulate how structures behave under stress, load, heat or movement. Instead of relying solely on physical prototypes, engineers use advanced software to predict real-world performance.
In storage tank design, FE analysis helps:
– Detect stress concentration points
– Optimise material usage
– Improve safety margins
– Reduce design failures
It’s a perfect example of how engineering today sits at the intersection of physical systems and digital tools.
A career path students often miss
Despite its importance, this domain rarely features in mainstream career conversations. Many students are unaware that industrial software applications exist specifically for tank modelling, detailing and structural validation.
Abhishek Maitra, Mechanical Engineering & Product Design alumnus of Apeejay Stya University, currently working in industrial application development shares, “Many people think development only means web or app-based work. But there’s a whole world of engineering software built for industries like oil and gas.”
This highlights a broader truth — not all software careers are IT-centric, and not all mechanical roles are factory-bound.
