Structural Design and Theories

Silo is a structure used to store and protect the food and fodder so that it is preserved in an ideal
condition for human and animals.

Shallow bin:

A bin whose relative dimensions are such that the plane of rupture meets the grain surface
before it strikes the opposite side is called shallow bin. For shallow bin H/D £ 1.5.

Deep bin:

A bin whose relative dimensions are such that the plane of rupture meets the bin wall is called
deep bin. For deep bin H/D >1.5.

Design criteria of Silo:

Common forms
o Silos are generally circular in cross section, although different forms, such as square or
rectangular cross sections are commonly adopted for shallow bins or bunkers.

Dr. Tariqul Islam

Associate Professor
Dept. of ACEE, SAU, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.
 o When calculating the size of a silo of a specified capacity, the unit weight of the material
should not be overestimated and too small a value should not be assumed for the angle
of internal friction.
Material
o The materials generally used for the construction of silos are structural steel and
reinforced concrete.
o Both materials have their own merits and demerits.
o A silo having a circular cross section may also be formed with thin-walled plates
without any stiffener.
Structural Responses Concrete silos
o High strength, durability, workability, long life, and resistance to fire may be
considered as the main properties of the concrete silos.
o Steel silos: On the other hand, because the steel members have high strength, the steel
silos can resist high loads with comparatively lighter weight and smaller-sized
members.
o The steel silos are gas- and water-tight because of higher density. Fabrication, erection,
and handling or dismantling are easier. However, the main drawback with steel is that
it is susceptible to corrosion.
Bottom structure
o For the design of their bottoms, silos may or may not have premises underneath the
bottom. The choice of the type of silo depends first on the properties of the loose
material and in the unloading equipment selected.
o Materials: Some of the materials that require storage in silos are hygroscopic and, in
contact with moist air, cohesion builds up to such a degree that the material can be
loosened only by mechanical means. raw sugar, salt, and some granular materials fall
in this category.
o Flour is also hygroscopic, but in relatively dry storage the cohesion is weak, and the
material can be easily loosened by compressed air so that it flows out of the cells by
gravity.
o Non-hygroscopic or less hygroscopic materials are stored most economically in
relatively high cellular silos the individual cells of which are emptied by gravity flow.
o Also, some of the highly hygroscopic materials (sugar, salt, etc.) may attack concrete,
so that a protective coating for the inside surfaces of walls is required unless special
cement and dense, closed surfaces are used.
o If hygroscopic sticky materials are not dried before storage, considerable cohesion and
arching can be expected; consequently, the cell walls are subjected to unsymmetrical
loading during emptying and have to resist considerably higher horizontal pressure than
in the fully-filled condition.
o Sometimes silos are required to be provided with driers and equipment for infected
grain-treatment facilities.
Assessment of Forces:
o Pressure Theories: The stored materials in the storage bins exert horizontal pressure to
the side walls of the bins in addition to the vertical forces from weight of the material.
o Pressure along the depth of the silo varies during the filling and emptying processes of
the materials.
o Location of discharge opening may also substantially change the pressure distribution
on the bin walls.
o Discharge through eccentrically loaded openings causes change in lateral pressure.
o The equilibrium of the contained material is changed while unloading the silo.

Dr. Tariqul Islam

Associate Professor
Dept. of ACEE, SAU, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.
 o If the silo is unloaded from the top, the frictional load on the wall may change owing
to re-expansion of the material; however, the lateral pressures remain the same as those
that occur during filling.
o When unloading a free-flowing material from the center of a hopper at the bottom, one
of two different modes of flow may occur.
Mode of Flow
o The mode of flow depends primarily on the nature of the contained material, and the
size of the silo and the hopper.
o The modes are generally termed core flow and mass flow.
o However, this action produces substantial local increase in lateral pressure at the
intersection between the vertical walls and the hopper bottom. Sometimes a situation
may arise in which the flow may be a borderline between core flow and mass flow and,
in the process, the stored material is intermittently in core or mass flow.
o This occurs when the hopper is almost, but not quite steep and smooth enough for mass
flow and leads to jerky flow.
o At high withdrawal rates, these jerks can be destructive.
o The volumetric change of the stored material owing to increase in moisture content and
temperature fluctuations can cause the development of high pressures.
o Core Flow: Core flow generally gives rise to some increase in lateral pressure from the
filled condition.
o Mass Flow: Mass flow occurs in silos with steep-sided hoppers. To ensure the
convergent downward movement of the entire mass of the material as a whole, steep-
sided hoppers are provided.

In general, the factors that affect the pressure distribution are i) moisture content of the stored
material, ii) particle size gradation, iii) angularity of particles of the stored material, iv)
temperature of the material, v) rate of filling, vi) amount of aeration during filling, vii) aeration
during withdrawal, and so on.

The horizontal/vertical pressures exerted by the material on the walls are calculated using
Rankin’s theory, Airy’s theory, Janssen’s theory

Rankin’s Theory:

Rankine's Theory assumes that failure will occur when the maximum principal stress at any
point reaches a value equal to the tensile stress in a simple tension specimen at failure. This
theory does not take into account the effect of the other two principal stresses. Rankine's theory
is satisfactory for brittle materials, and not applicable to ductile materials. This theory is also
called the Maximum Stress Theory.

Janssen’s theory:

Grain pressure in deep bins were studied by Janssen, whose theory on lateral and vertical
pressure distribution. He assumed that grains loads were carried by grain arch within the
structure which distributes a portion of the grain weight to the walls in the form of a vertical
wall load. Uses of Janssen’s equation has been questioned because of the uncertainty of k value.
Janssen’s equation is still most widely used in design of grain storage bins and silos. It is used
for deigning the deep bins.

Dr. Tariqul Islam

Associate Professor
Dept. of ACEE, SAU, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.
Airy’s theory:

Airy derived formula for total lateral wall load per unit perimeter and lateral pressures for both
shallow and deep bins. Lateral pressure for rice and wheat is calculated by Airy’s equation.
Because of the uncertainty of the value of k in Janssen’s equation, it is more preferable.

Derivation of Rankin’s Equation:

Consider a shallow bin containing grain and the failure plane BC cutting the top surface of the
grain shown in figure below. The three forces F, W and P constitutes in figure below a set of
concurrent forces in equilibrium.

Resolving the forces in the horizontal and vertical direction;

We have,
P = F Sin (45°-j/2) …………… (i)
W = F Cos (45°-j/2) …………… (ii)

Dividing equation (i) by equation (ii), we get,

P = w tan (45°-j/2) ……………… (iii)

!#!
The area of triangle ABC is, $
tan (45°-j/2)

Considering unit width, the weight of the grain mass in the section ABC is,

! % r&'
w = $
tan (45°-j/2) ……………… (iv)
[r𝑑𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛]

From equation (iii) and (iv) we get,

! %r&'
P= $
tan2 (45°-j/2)
! % r&' 789:;j
= $
(7<9:; j)

Dr. Tariqul Islam

Associate Professor
Dept. of ACEE, SAU, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.
Janssen’s Formula:

The derivation and application of Janssen’s formula for the calculation of the pressure on the
walls and bottom of soils.

Notations:
w = Density of the material stored in the bin (lb/ft3)
h = Depth below the top of the points for which the pressures are being calculated (ft)
A = Area enclosed by the horizontal section through the bin (ft2)
U = Perimeter of the same section (ft)
R = A/U (ft), the hydraulic mean depth of the section
j = Angle of response of the filling (degree)
j' = Angle of friction of the filling on the walls of the bin
μ' = tan j' = co-efficient of friction of grain on bin wall
Ph = Intensity of the total horizontal pressure on the walls (lb/ft2)
Pv = Intensity of the total vertical pressure (lb/ft2)
K = Ph/Pv = 1-sinj/1+ sinj = tan2 (45 - j/2)

The derivation of the Janssen’s formula is as follows for the equilibrium of a thin matter
laminar of height dh.

SFv = 0
PvA + wAdh = (Pv + dPv/dh .dh) A + μ' Ph.Udh
Þ PvA + wAdh = Pv.A + dPv/dh .dh. A + μ' Ph.Udh
Þ wAdh = dPv/dh .dh. A + μ' Ph.Udh………………. (1)
Dr. Tariqul Islam
Associate Professor
Dept. of ACEE, SAU, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.
We have, k = Ph/Pv
So, Ph = k.Pv
By putting the value of Ph into the eqn (1)

\ wAdh - dPv/dh .dh. A - μ' kPvUdh = 0

Now dividing throughout by A. dh,

We get,
Þw - dPv/dh - μ' kPv.U/A = 0

7
Þw - dPv/dh - μ' kPv. = =0
>
7
Þw - dPv/dh - μ' kPv. ? = 0

To solve this, the variables must be separated –

7
Þ w - μ' kPv. ? = dPv/dh

@A BCD
Þ dPv = (w - ?
) dh
ECD
Þ GH IJK = dh
F8
L

By integrating,

ECD
Þò GH IJK = òdh
F8
L
7 @A B
Þ GH I loge (w − ?
𝑃𝑣) = h +C1 [C1 = Integrating constant]
8
L

@A B @A B
Þ loge (w − ?
𝑃𝑣) = − ?
.h + C ……………… (1)

For boundary equation –

If h=0, Pv =0
loge w = 0 + C

\ C = loge w

Now putting the value of C in equation (1), we get,

@A B @A B
Þ loge (w − ? 𝑃𝑣) = − ? .h + loge w
@A B @A B
Þ loge (w − ?
𝑃𝑣) - loge w = − ?
.h
µ′ k
w− 𝑃𝑣 H
Þ loge ( 𝑅
) = − @ ?B.X
w

Dr. Tariqul Islam

Associate Professor
Dept. of ACEE, SAU, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.
 µ′ k
w− 𝑃𝑣 GH I.Y
Þ 𝑅
= 𝑒8 L
w
GHI.Y
@A B
Þw − ?
𝑃𝑣 = w 𝑒 8 L

GHI.Y
@A B
Þ w − w 𝑒8 L = ?
𝑃𝑣

GHI.Y
@A B
Þ w(1 − 𝑒 8 L )= ?
𝑃𝑣
GHI.Y
?[
Þ kPv = @A
(1 − 𝑒 8 L )

\]
But, k = \^ , \ k Pv = Ph
GHI.Y
?[ 8
\ Ph = k Pv = @A
(1 − 𝑒 L )

Problem-1: Using Janssen’s equation determine the amount of steel required at every 5 ft up
to a depth of 100 ft for a silo from the following data.

Diameter of the bin = 35 ft

Ratio of lateral and vertical pressure, k =0.27
Coefficient of friction μ' =0.57
The angle of response is 30° and the material to be stored is cement.

Given:

D = 35 ft
K= Ph/Pv = 0.27
μ' = 0.57
j = 30°

Stored material = Cement

Assume, Unit weight of cement, w = 90 lb/ft3

Solution:

p/4 D$
R = A/U = = D/4 = 35/4 = 8.75¢
pD
From Janssen’s equation, we know the intensity of horizontal pressure,

GHI.Y
?[
Ph = @A
(1 − 𝑒 8 L )

Substituting all the known values we get,

g.hi C g.%i C Y
bc C d.ef
Ph = c.fe
(1 − 𝑒 8 j.ih )
= 1381.58 (1 – e -0.0176 h)

Dr. Tariqul Islam

Associate Professor
Dept. of ACEE, SAU, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.
The total tension on strip of the wall of 1 ft high.

CX C k CX C lf
T = $ = $ = 17.5 x Ph lb
Area of the steel required,
As = T/fs; fs = Allowable stress of steel = 18000 psi
Spacing can be determined by the relation,
mn C 7$
Spacing = op in c/c
Where, as = Cross sectional area of rod

For h=5¢
Ph = 1381.58 (1 – e -0.0176 x 5) = 116.38 lb/ft2
T = 17.5 x 116.38 = 2036.704 lb
As = 2036.704/18000 = 0.113 in2
Using # 4 rod
c.77 # 7$
Spacing = c.77l = 12² c/c

For h=10¢
Ph = 1381.58 (1 – e -0.0176 x 10) = 222.96 lb/ft2
T=
As =
Using # 4 rod
Spacing =
……
…..
For h=100¢
Ph = 1381.58 (1 – e -0.0176 x 100) = 1143.88 lb/ft2
T=
As =
Using # 6 rod
Spacing =

Depth (ft) Horizontal Total tension Area of steel Rod No. Spacing in
pressure on strip of (in2) c/c
(lb/ft2) the wall (lb)
05
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Dr. Tariqul Islam
Associate Professor
Dept. of ACEE, SAU, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.
 60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100

Bag Storage Structure:

# Design a bag storage structure for storing 500 tones of paddy. Show the plan and section of
the structure.

Solution:
Assume, dimension of a bag: Length = 1 m
Width = 0.6 m
Thickness = 0.3 m

We know the unit weight of rough rice, W = 42 lb/cft or 670 kg/m3

Considering 2/3rd of total volume, capacity of a bag 1 x 0.6 x 0.3 x 2/3 = 0.12 m3
= 670 x 0.12
= 80.4 kg
fcc # 7ccc
No of bags = = 6666.67 @ 6700
dc.q

Size of stack:
Let, there be 10 bags in length and 10 bags in width in a stack

\ No. of bags per layer = 10 x 10 = 100

If there are 12 layers in a stack, total no. bags per stack = 100 x 12 =1200
Hence, the number of stacks required = 6700/1200 @ 6 (approx.)

Space required by each stack:

Length = 10 x 1m = 10m
Width = 10 x 0.6m = 6m
Height = 12 bags x 0.3m = 3.6 m

The clear distance between the walls and the end of the stack = 0.8 m
The clear distance between the stack = 2.0 m
Length of the floor = (6x6) + (2x5) + (2x0.8)
= 47.6 m @ 48m

Width of the floor = (1 x 10) + (2 x 0.8) = 11.6 m @ 12m

Dr. Tariqul Islam

Associate Professor
Dept. of ACEE, SAU, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.
So, the overall dimensions of the required structure = 48m x12m
And, the height of walls may be kept as 5m above the floor.

Fig: Plan of a bag storage structure for 500 tones paddy

Dr. Tariqul Islam

Associate Professor
Dept. of ACEE, SAU, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh.