11.

Silos and tanks

Loading, steel structure of walls and supports.
Design is governed by EN 1993-4.
Silos

Tanks

- for storing granular solids

- for storing liquid products

bunkers
silos
low-pressure (< 2 kPa)
high-pressure (part. spherical)
of steady volume

Gasholders - for storing gas

of variable volume
dry gasholder
(piston ceiling)

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11

Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

water gasholder
(telescopic)

Helical water gasholder

(without supporting stanchions)

discharged

filled

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11

Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

Water gasholders with supporting stanchions

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Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

Silos
Serve for storing granular solids. They are divided into:
Bunkers

Silos

plan area is A

h > 1,5 A
h < 1,5 A

>

(angle of internal friction)

unit weight Fk
angle of internal friction
internal friction factor
F loading factor
exponential decrement: see Eurocode

Actions on silos (EN 1991-4)

pv
z

ph

pw

pw
ph pv

Another: wind, snow, discharge loadings,

local loading, temperature, settling of
supports ...

Coefficient of active earth pressure:

= tg2 45
OK3

11

Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

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,
for Class 1 may be ignored
- fatigue,
- SLS (deflections and vibrations ).
Design allowance for corrosion and abrasion min. 2 mm is recommended!

Cylindrical silos (shell):

t

ph cylinder
d
ring
hopper

D = 2r

n
r
ph

n
r d

wall of unstiffened cylinder:

n d

phr d dx = nd dx

membrane circumferential tension force in cylinder wall:

n,Ed = phr t f yd
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Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

from equilibrium (membrane theory)

i.e.

t=

ph r
fyd
5

- meridional force (vertical, from weight and friction):

Strength check (Ilyushin yield criterion):

nx,Ed

nx,2 Ed nx,Ed n,Ed + n,2 Ed t f yd

wall of conical hopper:

from equilibrium of vertical forces in ring the meridional force:
pressure from
cyllinder content V1
n
n

V2

n ,d

V Ed
=
2 r sin

V1 + V2

Approximate check of hopper wall:

1,2 n , Ed 0 ,90 t f ud

(for M2 =1,25)

recommended for asymmetrical loading

Transition junction
stiffening ring
(N, M)

loading of the ring:

supports
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11

Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

Approximate circumferential compressive force in the junction (effective area of

the ring Aet is given in Eurocode):

NEd
fyd
Aet
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).

NEd = n,Ed r sin

and

Check formulas (critical values of internal forces, stresses) are given in Eurocode.
Complex checks require FE analysis for all kinds of loadings.
Planar-sided silos
t
det.

stiffeners
(considers own cross-section
+ effective width of plate 30 t)

unstiffened web plates

webs with stiffeners

For Class 1 silos: 1st order analysis is possible.

Resulting internal forces need to be checked for strength
and stability.
OK3

11

Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

Analysis of supports
frame support columns (needed for free passage):
can be considered with infinite () rigidity.

Lcr = 2h
h

truss structure:
1st order analysis may be used, no sway.

Lcr = h

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Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

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
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Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

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:

t=
H

pd r
f yd

- where design loading by liquid and overpressure:

pd = F H + q d

D = 2r

For spherical tanks:

pr
t=
2 f yd

unit weight
(one half in comparison to the above)
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Prof. Ing. Josef Machek, DrSc.

design overpressure
above liquid level

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