Study on Failure Plane of Bulk Solid in Squat Silos

Changbing Chen

doi:10.2174/1874149501206010033

Abstract

With the increasing volume demand of silos, squat silo diameters are bigger and bigger. However, present wall pressure computation methods are mostly based on small diameter silos. To solve this problem, systematical research on the wall pressure in squat silos is of great importance. For now, in the Chinese code the wall pressure computation methods are based on the limit equilibrium theory to be calculated, which define the orientation of the failure plane in the bulk solid within the silo. The rupture angle is a key parameter to silos’ wall pressure. Therefore the value and direction of rupture angle are researched by theoretical method in this paper, which has heavy significance and provide an important basis for the large diameter silo design.

Highlights

Silos are structures that have always concerned mankind due to their capacity to store bulk solid, such as grain, coal, cement and so on
The wall pressure calculation method in the Chinese code are based on the limit equilibrium theory, which define the orientation of the failure plane in the bulk solid within the silo
The Appendix C in China’s Code (GB50077-2003) [9] indicate the effect of conical pile must be taken into account to calculate the wall pressure of large diameter silos with the following formula by different rupture angle

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Silos are structures that have always concerned mankind due to their capacity to store bulk solid, such as grain, coal, cement and so on. There is little system research on large diameter silos whose diameter is larger than 20 meters. It is meaningful to study on larger diameter silos. Most of this research applied to small diameter silo. Little system research directed to large diameter silos. Yuan (2004) studied static wall pressure on large diameter silos used limit equilibrium method in her PhD thesis. Wall pressure is a key parameter to silos’ design It has an important effect on the safety and efficiency of silos. The wall pressure calculation method in the Chinese code are based on the limit equilibrium theory, which define the orientation of the failure plane in the bulk solid within the silo. The angles of failure plane in the bulk solid within squat silos are discussed

THE RUPTURE ANGLE IN CHINA’S CODE

First Case

Second Case

Analysis and Synthesis

CONCLUSIONS