Analysis of Dynamic Discharge Pressures in Cylindrical Slender Silos with a Flat Bottom or with a Hopper: Comparison with Eurocode 1

Few models simulate the discharge of flat-bottom silos by using finite elements. This paper presents a new dynamic model for silo discharge using the Drucker–Prager plasticity model. The model was used to study discharge in mixed flow and mass flow silos with rigid walls. Various silos were analysed, and pressures under different flow patterns were compared. Results were also compared with Eurocode 1—part 4 on actions in silos and tanks, which is the standard used in the European Union. Overpressure coefficients due to discharge were obtained in all cases. In the case of flat-bottom silos, overpressures occurred in the lower part of the silo. The values obtained for overpressures were lower than the values obtained in the case of mass flow hopper silos. The effects of wall friction and outlet radius were also analysed.