Influence of specific weight and wall friction coefficient on normal pressures in silos using the Finite Element Method

Abstract

The objective of this work was to develop models using the Finite Element Method (FEM) to assess the maximum normal pressures in the static condition in silos using different wall friction coefficient and specific weight of the stored product compared to the pressures obtained by the Eurocode 1, part 4. The geometries of the silos models were developed based on the dimensions of the experimental station at the Universidad de Leon (Spain). The material properties were obtained by Jenike shear cell tests and were used to generate the models by the MEF. 3D models were generated varying the friction coefficient (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6) and the specific weight (6; 7.5 and 9 kN / m3). It was verified that the models by FEM follow the theory of pressures in silos: normal pressures increase due to the increase in specific weight and decrease due to the increase in the friction coefficient. Moreover, the maximum normal pressure occurs at the hopper silo transition. The experimental pressures (FEM models) compared with Eurocode 1, part 4 allowed to validate the models developed, presenting trends of similar values to those found by the MEF. The experimental models demonstrated that the influence of the wall friction coefficient and specific weight significantly interferes with the pressures in slender silos.