OBJECTIVE/SCOPE

To explain the calculation of loads on steel bins arising from stored materials. To
describe the structural design of common types of bin.

PREREQUISITES

None.

RELATED LECTURES

None.

SUMMARY

This lecture explains how to calculate loads on steel bins from the stored material and
describes the structural design of common types of bin. The methods for the
calculation of loads are based on rules given in Eurocode 1 [1] and the guidelines for
structural design have been compiled from numerous publications. Bin design is a
complicated subject covering the analysis of thin shells and stiffened plate structures
with uncertain load distributions. This lecture is necessarily limited to an overall view
of simple and practical methods for the design of common bin types.

NOTATION
a, b plate dimensions

A cross-sectional area of vertical walled section

C wall load magnifier, buckling constant

Cb bottom load magnifier

Ch horizontal load magnifier

Cw wall frictional pressure magnifier

dc characteristic cross-section dimension (Figure 5)

E modulus of elasticity

e the larger of ei and eo

ei eccentricity due to filling (Figure 5)

eo eccentricity of the centre of the outlet (Figure 5)

fcr critical buckling stress

Fp total horizontal force due to patch load on a thin walled circular (membrane) silo

Frb ring beam force

h distance from outlet to equivalent surface (Figure 5)

k plate buckling factor

Ks horizontal to vertical pressure ratio

lh hopper wall length (Figure 8)