Grain Bin evaluation
Grain Bin evaluation
(OP)
I have been asked to give my opinion about the structural integrity of an existing 400,000-bushel circular Butler metal storage bin.
The structure is about 18 years old (no records) 96 feet in diameter about 60 feet high and set on a circular concrete foundation (unknown design) 100 feet in diameter.
I looked @ the bin and foundation. There are no cracks in the foundation and none of the metal rib siding show any signs of displacement and all bolts are intact and in place.
However when I took elevations on the top of the footing there is about a 5 ½” inch difference in elevation in a100 feet.
Questions how concern should I be about the elevation difference and how far do you investigate? This is not a public work project and it has been in use since construction.
The structure is about 18 years old (no records) 96 feet in diameter about 60 feet high and set on a circular concrete foundation (unknown design) 100 feet in diameter.
I looked @ the bin and foundation. There are no cracks in the foundation and none of the metal rib siding show any signs of displacement and all bolts are intact and in place.
However when I took elevations on the top of the footing there is about a 5 ½” inch difference in elevation in a100 feet.
Questions how concern should I be about the elevation difference and how far do you investigate? This is not a public work project and it has been in use since construction.






RE: Grain Bin evaluation
RE: Grain Bin evaluation
personnel lift.
Soils are most likely GW or GP
RE: Grain Bin evaluation
If the base deflects out of a plane, it can cause problems in the structure itself, which would generally show up as buckles of one sort or another. API-653 includes an evaluation criteria for welded steel (smooth) tanks, but it would not be applicable to a corrugated-type structure.
Given that it's an agricultural facility, there's not much telling how the foundation was built, whether a soils report was done, etc. If it doesn't seem to be having problems otherwise, I'd note the settlement, but otherwise not take any action.
It is possible it was built that way, too.
RE: Grain Bin evaluation
RE: Grain Bin evaluation
RE: Grain Bin evaluation
RE: Grain Bin evaluation
RE: Grain Bin evaluation
It would help to know generally what type of soils are in the area. Around here, you don't expect to see that much movement, but I've seen sites that anticipated two or three times as much settlement. If you're in an area where movement is pretty minimal, chances that it was built that way are a lot higher. If it's beside the river or in the swamplands, it could have moved that much.
RE: Grain Bin evaluation
Not the most accurate check, but if there is a problem it may tell you where to investigate further.
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