Finite-Element Modeling of Filling Pressures in a Full-Scale Silo

A detailed nonlinear finite-element analysis is undertaken of the wall pressures exerted by iron ore pellets in a full-scale silo experiment. The ring stiffeners on the exterior of the silo wall cause local small axisymmetric geometric imperfections, and the effect of these on the pressure predictions is explored, together with its sensitivity to the chosen bulk solid constitutive model. This paper focuses on the filling pressures alone, because these are a necessary starting point if discharge pressure predictions are to be made with confidence.