Summary
The determination of structural loads such as lateral pressure and vertical friction force acting on farm tower silo walls are usually carried out using formulae specified in a building code or standard. In Japan, B.S. 5061 is used for these loads but as this code was established in England, it is pointed out that it might be unsuitable for actual condition in Japan.HomePage
In this paper, lateral pressures and vertical stresses on the wall of a steel tower silo containing dent corn silage were measured in the field. The diameter and the height of the silo were 2.5 m and 7 m, respectively. Moisture content of the silage was about 77% (W.B.). Measurement of the lateral pressures were performed by hand made pressure transducer using liquid. Vertical friction force were estimated from the tensile stresses measured on a slip of steel fixed on the top of the silo.
From the measurement, the maximum lateral pressure was about 5kPa. The distribution of the lateral pressure in the axial direction was similar to that obtained from the equation presented by Neubauer. Vertical friction force in the axial direction estimated from the tensile stresses can be assumed to increase with the square of the silage depth. But near the top of the silo, the increase of the friction force was less than the assumed value.