Silos are important storage structures used for bulk storage of grains, cement etc.

Since very
heavy mass is distributed over a small height in silos, if it is not analysed properly, it can lead to
catastrophic failure. They are special structures subjected to many different unconventional
loading conditions, carrying large tonnage of mass which results in unusual failure modes. Many
researchers have studied the behaviour of silos under filling and discharging conditions.
However, very little research has been taken up in the field of seismic response of elevated steel
silos especially using dynamic pushover analysis. Detailed studies are needed for evaluating
seismic performance of elevated steel silos under influence of parameters such as aspect ratio,
filling conditions, bracing systems (knee bracing) in silo supporting structure etc. One of the
approaches used in past studies in field of seismic analysis of silos has been 3D finite element
analysis. However, 3D finite element analysis requires detailed nonlinear modeling of granular
material and it is also computationally expensive. On the other hand, codal provisions for seismic
analysis of silos are approximate and they do not explicitly consider nonlinear granular material
modeling. Taking above issues into account, analyzing silos by pushover analysis offers several
advantages. Pushover analysis is relatively simple as compared to 3D FE analysis and it gives
accurate results when compared to codal provisions.

The present study aims to evaluate the seismic performance of elevated steel silos using dynamic
pushover analysis. It is further proposed to compare the seismic performance of elevated steel
silos by varying parameters such as aspect ratio, filling conditions and knee bracing systems in
silo supporting structure. Under seismic action, the material profile changes at every instant. This
causes the loading (pressure) on silo walls to change at every instant. This study proposes to
apply this realistic variation of loading on silo walls step wise in pushover analysis. The results
such as capacity curves, performance point, silo wall stresses, base shear etc. will be monitored.
The inelastic actions in silo wall and silo supporting structure will also be monitored.