A numerical investigation into the behavior of ground-supported concrete silos filled with saturated solids

This paper introduces a finite-element solution for simulating the filling process of ground-supported concrete silos filled with saturated granular material. An elasto-plastic axisymmetric finite-element model is used to represent both the granular material and the concrete silo. The interaction between the two materials is modeled using interface elements to allow for relative movement. The filling process is idealized via a multi-stage numerical technique capable of representing both undrained and drained conditions for the granular material. The effects of the relative stiffness between the foundation and wall are examined, as are the boundary conditions at the top of the structure (the roof details). Depending on the drainage properties of the stored material, the effect of the filling process may be time-dependent. The excess pore water pressure resulting from the filling process may cause a substantial increase in the hoop stresses in the wall. The predicted internal forces may be influenced by the foundation rigidity, but not by the boundary condition at the top of the wall. The results of these analyses may be used to design experiments to evaluate existing silos, or to develop filling strategies to minimize loads on existing structures.