Regression models for distributions of dockage and foreign materials in grain silos filled by central spouts

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Flat or hopper bottom cylindrical silos are mostly used for storing grains on farms. When grain is loaded into a silo by a central spout, a heap forms and segregation occurs, which may result in different distributions of dockage and foreign materials (DFM) at different locations inside the silo. Using the data reported in the literature, regression models were developed to predict the DFM distributions inside the silos. The regression models were used as a tool to compare the DFM distributions among different studies published in literature. It was found that the best regression models to predict the distributions of other grains, other particles, and small impurities were the 3- parameter exponential decay, 5- parameter rational, and 3- parameter exponential decay, respectively. These models predicted the DFM distributions well in generally, but there were some discrepancies at the silo center and walls regardless the direction of distribution, silo size, dropping height, crop type, and loading method. Specifically, the DFM distributions at the center and walls had larger variations than other locations.