Static and dynamic stress analysis of flat bottom-bamboo reinforced concrete silo for rough rice storage

Vortrag

Abstract

Concrete silos are one of the most robust and reliable structures for grain storage in tropical countries. This study analysed the structural behavior of a low cost, flat bottom bamboo-reinforced concrete (BRC) silo for rough rice storage. This research included the design and development of a BRC silo in accordance with the guidelines mentioned by the Indian Standard (IS) codes. The Finite Element Method was employed to develop the stress profile in the silo walls under “grain at rest” and “grain filling” conditions. The results obtained were further compared with experimental results, classic silo theories (Janssen’s theory) and standards of different countries in the world. The numerical technique gave stress magnitudes very close to those of the experimental results. The classic theories as well as the standards of different countries predicted an over estimation of the magnitude of stresses in the BRC silo. This would result in extra cost of construction of BRC silos. The study also suggested that the vertical stresses were most predominant under static and filling conditions. Maximum stresses were developed at the silo bottom. This study is expected to aid the development of economical silos with minimum wall thickness and material requirement which are ideal for on-site construction and use by smallholder farmers.