Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis for Pressure on Flexible Wall Silos

Abstract

A 3D finite element model (FEM) for predicting the distribution of lateral pressure in a square flexible walled steel silo during the filling phase was analyzed in this study. The numerical approach, developed using Abaqus software, predicts the stress state in bulk solids, as well as the pressures exerted on the silo walls. An elasto-plastic model using the Drucker–Prager criterion was employed to simulate the behavior of the granular materials. The FEM simulates the behavior of the bulk solid and its interaction with the silo’s wall and base using a surface-to-surface discretization model. The model’s predictions were validated by previous experimental measurements. The results revealed good agreement between the FEM predictions and the experimental measurements. The research confirms that the lateral pressure distribution is not uniform at any silo level. This highlights the fact that many available theories and current design codes are not accurate for flexible steel walls. As a result of the wall’s deformability, pressure regimes on the silo wall change significantly in the horizontal direction at any level. The results showed that the horizontal variations of lateral pressure change drastically with regard to wall stiffness. The FEM has been used to investigate the effect of critical parameters on wall pressure distribution, such as properties of bulk solids, wall thickness, and silo type, whether deep or flat.