Wall Load Considerations in the Design of Silos
AJ McLean, PC Arnold · 1982
The main deficiency in the design of silos to date has been the complete disregard of the effects of wall friction. This wall friction, arising-from the ability of bulk solids to exert static shear stresses, generates considerable axial forces in the silo walls, the presence of which require proper structural treatment. The neglect of the presence of flow overpressures in the design of silos is also alarming. These deficiencies suggest that the proper and complete design of silos is only possible when a full understanding of all silo wall loads is gained. Likewise, the optimization of silo installations will be warranted only when the understanding of silo walls is ubiquitous with all silo operators, owners and designers. At best the design of silos is tricky, because silos are complex, civil engineering structures. To offset the present deficiency a brief outline of the evaluation of silo wall loads is presented.