Braces buried in bulk storage bins

[Schambach]

On a bulk storage fertilizer containment building with 16' tall concrete walls I'd like to brace the tops of the concrete walls to not have to design pure cantilevered walls. The material will actually be stored HIGHER than the walls so a brace at 16' would be embedded in the stored material. My concern is not the corrosion aspects of what fertilizer against this brace would be (though that's an issue) but rather the "fluid" pressures that would act on this brace as it is an obstruction to free-flowing material as the piles are created and/or removed from the bin. Anybody have experience with this? Round tubes better than square shapes? Can I look at the forces on these braces as a uniform load equal to the height and density of material above it? Any other suggestions or concerns?

Thanks.

 

[JLNJ]

With such serious effects for a brace failure, I'd be extremely conservative. Pressure and Time can do amazing things.

You don't want the braces to be eroded away any time within the next 100 years.

 

[BAretired]

I agree that corrosion is a vital concern in this building.

With the possibility of unbalanced lateral pressure on the walls, you will need some kind of structure to resist the axial brace forces. The high walls cannot reasonably be expected to do the job by themselves. The attached sketch illustrates a plan view of the building with a suggestion for truss members in the end bins.

BA

 

[Schambach]

Thanks. Good idea!