Author(s)

M. Khouri

Abstract

The use of circular silos with independent hopper structure in the process of storing grain and other granular material has become very extensive nowadays. The structural analysis of silos is of a complex nature and requires sophisticated mathematical techniques for proper calculation. Janssen, Airy and Reimbert suggested different material lateral pressure approaches that can be followed in the process of calculating silo wall forces. This paper compares the above three methods to the water behaviour approach and makes use of the finite element method to check the closed form techniques. Also, average values of the three approaches were determined for various silo dimensions and graphed for the use of engineers and designers. 1 Introduction and background Different types of silos have been developed but the most used are circular ones. Recently, the use of a totally independent structure of hopper within the silo was found to be more economical due to the isolation and simplicity in the process of construction and design. Silos depend on many factors such as the stored material, the type of silo, the construction material properties, the height and diameter of the silo, wall thickness, the angle of the hopper, etc. Many investigators have studied circular silos. Timoshenko et al. [1,2] presented the differential equation that can be used in solving silo problems. The equation calculates the deformation shape of the wall for any pressure function by isolating a vertical strip in the wall and using symmetry. In 1895, Janssen [3] suggested a pressure application approach, while Airy [5] addressed his pressure application approach in 1897; Reimbert and Reimbert [4] in 1976 suggested a pressure application approach, which is similar in nature to the other two

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