Significance of structural vibrations on the flow rates and pressures inside a silo during discharge

Existing methods of determining silo pressures and flow rates use gravity as the only force acting on the bulk materials inside the silos. The effects of the vibrating silo supporting structure have been somewhat overlooked in existing silo flow models. As such, the structural integrity of the silo structure in some cases is compromised. Evidently, silo structures have the highest rate of failure. Fundamentals of applied physics and Newton's laws of motion suggest that the vibrating structure induces accelerations that can adversely affect the pressures, flow rates and structural integrity of the silo structure. In this paper, the formulae in AS3774 to calculate discharge pressures will be modified to include the structural responses, and the effects of the structural responses on the flow rates, and pressures will be presented. Such unique properties can be used to design better, monitor and maintain the silo structure.