11 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

OK3 1
11. Silos and tanks
Loading, steel structure of walls and supports.
Design is governed by EN 1993-4.
Silos - for storing granular solids
Tanks - for storing liquid products
Gasholders - for storing gas
bunkers
silos
low-pressure (< 2 kPa)
high-pressure (part. spherical)
of steady volume
of variable volume
dry gasholder
(piston ceiling)
water gasholder
(telescopic)
11 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.
OK3 2
Helical water gasholder
(without supporting stanchions)
discharged filled
11 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.
OK3 3
Water gasholders with supporting stanchions
11 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.
OK3 4
Silos
Serve for storing granular solids. They are divided into:
Actions on silos (EN 1991-4)
z
p
w
p
v
p
w
p
h
Z Z Z
p
v
p
h
unit weight F
k
angle of internal friction
internal friction factor

F
loading factor
exponential decrement: see Eurocode
Another: wind, snow, discharge loadings,
local loading, temperature, settling of
supports ...

=
2
45 tg
2

Coefficient of active earth pressure:
plan area is A
A , h 5 1 <
(angle of internal friction)
A , h 5 1 >
>
Bunkers Silos
11 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.
OK3
5
Analysis and design of silos (EN 1993-4-1)
3 consequence classes: Class 1, 2, 3
Class 1: Simple structures, up to capacity 100 t, simplified actions.
- membrane theory may be used, with simple formulas for boundary disturbance
and asymetric loading.
Checks for:
- global stability and static equilibrium,
- strength of the structure and joints,
- stability (global and local formulas given in Eurocode),
- cyclic plastification,
- fatigue,
- SLS (deflections and vibrations ).
Design allowance for corrosion and abrasion min. 2 mm is recommended!
for Class 1 may be ignored
Cylindrical silos (shell):
t
p
h
D = 2r
wall of unstiffened cylinder:
from equilibrium (membrane theory)
dx d n dx d r p
h
=

n
d
r
d

n
p
h
r

d

n
d n

x
membrane circumferential tension force in cylinder wall:
yd h Ed ,
f t r p n =
cylinder
hopper
ring
yd
h
i.e.
f
r p
t =
11 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.
OK3
6
- meridional force (vertical, from weight and friction):
Strength check (Ilyushin yield criterion):
Ed x,
n
yd
2
Ed , Ed , Ed x,
2
Ed x,
f t n n n n +
wall of conical hopper:
from equilibrium of vertical forces in ring the meridional force:
sin 2
Ed
d
r
V
n

=
,
pressure from
cyllinder content V
1
V
2

n
Approximate check of hopper wall:
ud Ed ,
90 , 0 2 , 1 f t n
recommended for asymmetrical loading
Transition junction
supports
stiffening ring
(N, M)

n
loading of the ring:

(for
M2
=1,25)
V
1
+ V
2
11 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.
OK3 7
t
stiffeners
(considers own cross-section
+ effective width of plate 30 t)
det.
Planar-sided silos
Approximate circumferential compressive force in the junction (effective area of
the ring A
et
is given in Eurocode):
and sin r n N
Ed , Ed
=
yd
et
Ed
f
A
N

unstiffened web plates

webs with stiffeners
For Class 1 silos: 1
st
order analysis is possible.
Resulting internal forces need to be checked for strength
and stability.
Except strength checks the stability (buckling) of the shell need to be assessed:
in vertical direction,
in horizontal direction (due to wind and possible depression at discharge).
Check formulas (critical values of internal forces, stresses) are given in Eurocode.
Complex checks require FE analysis for all kinds of loadings.
11 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.
OK3 8
Analysis of supports
frame support columns (needed for free passage):
truss structure:
L
cr
= h
1
st
order analysis may be used, no sway.
L
cr
= 2h
can be considered with infinite () rigidity.
h
11 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.
OK3 9
Tanks
Acc. shape: cylindrical vertical, cylindrical horizontal, spherical, rectangular, other.
Acc. internal pressure: low-pressure (up to 20 mbar = 2kPa), high-pressure.
Cylindrical tanks
roof structure with
circumferential (primary)
ring or
floating sealed
piston (for oil), primary ring,
possibly with roof
Horizontally placed cylinders Spherical tank
saddles
rings
11 Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.
OK3 10
Design (EN 1993-4-2)
3 consequence Classes: Class 1, 2, 3
Class 1: Simple structures for agriculture or tanks containing water.
- membrane theory may be used, with simple formulas for boundary disturbance
and asymetric loading.
Checks for (roof, webs, for bottom use FEM):
- global stability and static equilibrium,
- strength of the structure and joints,
- stability (global and local formulas given in Eurocode),
- cyclic plastification,
- fatigue,
- SLS (deflections and vibrations ).
Simplified relations
Required thickness of cylindrical tank web:
yd
d
f
r p
t =
- where design loading by liquid and overpressure:
yd
2f
r p
t =
d F d
q H p + =
unit weight
design overpressure
above liquid level
For spherical tanks:
H
t
D = 2r
(one half in comparison to the above)