The influence of the base boundary condition in modelling filling of a metal silo

The effects of different assumptions about the boundary conditions in a finite element model of a circular planform flat-bottomed slender silo are reported. The predicted wall pressure near the transition of an axisymmetric metal silo is examined. Different assumptions in various models lead to significant variation in the resulting pressure predictions and these phenomena are explained. The effects of changing base inclination and hopper angle are investigated, and an initial explanation of the importance of hopper stiffness to the prediction of hopper pressures is proposed.