Grain Silos (Steel) - Recommendations for references and books

[human909]

Hi all,

The title says it all. Does anybody with experience in this area have recommendations for good books and references on silos. In particular steel sheet silos, Eurocode preferred. (A brief google has come up with a few, but I'd like to here recommendations if people have any.)

Thanks in advance.

 

[FEA way]

I recommend "Shell Stability Handbook" by L.A. Samuelson and S. Eggwertz. It's not strictly about silos but can be very useful when designing these structures.

 

[JStephen]

Most of what I've seen has been on welded steel structures. If you mean specifically the corrugated-type structures, I've seen zero on that. On the other hand, there can't be too many people that make them, and presumably they handle the design of them.

 

[human909]

Thanks 'FEA_way', I'll have a look into that.

If you mean specifically the corrugated-type structures, I've seen zero on that. On the other hand, there can't be too many people that make them, and presumably they handle the design of them.

Rolled sheet or flat sheet square silos for custom needs. Yep for the big corrugated type structures these are almost a commodity item turned out by various manufacturers.

For what its worth I've managed to have a peek into a proprietary excel spreadsheet from a large manufacturer of corrugated type silos. Once I had deciphered the inner workings it wasn't incredibly novel, but still there was alot to it.
-Simple ring tensions calculations for the sheets and bolting capacity of the sheets.
-Vertical load taken by vertical sections. Calculation of the capacity of these sections seems to follow the complex world of thin cold formed members.
-Compression ring capacity checks I gave up trying to decipher
-Conical hoppers had ring and in conical plane tension for sheets and bolting capacity.

It seems to be all there. But it was also a big mess!

 

[dik]

I've asked an engineer that I used to work with about design info and am awaiting a reply. He used to work for Behlen, in Manitoba, and their company designed numerous bins/silos.

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[HTURKAK]

If Eurocode preferred, i assume you have a copy of BS EN 1993-4-1.

I will suggest you to look PIP VESBI002 Design and Specification of Vessels for Bulk Solids..

If you know German, i will suggest you to look

- Stahlbau Kalender 2013 Prof. Dr.-lng. Ulrike Kuhlmann ( section 7 Silos und Einwirkungen auf Silos nach DIN EN 1993-4-1 459 , 8, Staehlerne Tankbauwerke nach DIN EN 1993-4-2 523 )

- STAHLBAU KALENDER 2009 rof. Dr.-lng. Ulrike Kuhlmann ( Section 6 Einwirkungen auf Silos aus Metallwerkstoffe )

 

[Blackstar123]

Look for the paper “The structural design of light gauge silo hoppers by J. Michael Rotter”. It’s a little out dated but it gives you key insight into the design of steel silos and could help you better understand the critical design aspects of a steel hopper.

 

[dik]

Nope, sorry. Technically, I think they were/are Westman Steel (sister company). But can’t be sure.





Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[human909]

Thanks for all the help everybody.

If Eurocode preferred, i assume you have a copy of BS EN 1993-4-1.

Yes. Unfortunately I don't know German. I'm actually in Australia so we use AS3774 which is pretty old not updated but J. Michael Rotter apperently was the lead author of both documents. AS3774 has the same philosophy and approach as BS EN 1993-4-1. ANSI/ASAE EP433 is generally less conservative.

Look for the paper “The structural design of light gauge silo hoppers by J. Michael Rotter”. It’s a little out dated but it gives you key insight into the design of steel silos and could help you better understand the critical design aspects of a steel hopper.

Thanks. I have it now, plus a couple more by Michael Rotter.

I think I have now answered my own question. Mr J. Michael Rotter seems to be popping up everywhere and it turns out he published a book only 3 years ago.
Now the only question on whether this thing still exists in the wild.

https://www.amazon.com/Structural-Functional-Design-Metal-Silos/dp/0415695031

 

[kingnero]

All eurocodes are available in German, English and French. Most of them (if not all) can even be found online for free.
I believe I saw very recently a thread on here with the link to the download/archive page (but as I have legit access to them, I didn't save the link unfortunately).
Edit: see here:

https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=480940

 

[Settingsun]

Rotter has a 2001 book that you might find more easily (was in pdf format). Circular silos only.