Failure analysis of reinforced concrete walls of cylindrical silos under elevated temperatures

Abstract

Lessons learned from failures are an important input for improvement of structural design and consequently, for advancement of standards. As an integral part of the industrial infrastructure, silos are exposed to high operation and environmental loads. As a result, silos suffered from serious damage in the recent years. One of the major factors affecting serviceability of silos is related to temperature-induced cracking. However, prediction of an adequate thermal loading may be a rather complex task and the significance of thermal cracking itself is not quite emphasized in the current guidelines for the design of silos. As a result, engineering practice may omit or underestimate this effect. The authors aim to present the significance of thermal loading in silos under elevated temperatures and its influence on the design of structurally necessary reinforcement. This is performed with summarizing background information for determining thermal loads based on the literature overview and further, with examining thermal load actions in a case study of a concrete silo for storing bulk cement by means of anumerical analysis.