Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU)

Department Of Civil Engineering

REINFORCED CONCRETE III

Chapter 6: - Bunkers and Silos

Contents
6.0 Bunkers and Silos.................................................................................................................... 2
6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 2
6.2 Difference between Bunkers and Silos ....................................................... 2
6.3 Design of Square or Rectangular Bunkers ................................................... 3
6.4 Design of Circular Bankers ..................................................................... 7
6.5 Design Example Ch-6-1 ......................................................................... 7
6.6 Design Example Ch-6-2 .................................................................................................... 12
6.7 Design of Silos .................................................................................... 13
6.8 Design Example Ch-6-3 .................................................................................................... 19

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 6.0 Bunkers and Silos
6.1 Introduction
Bunkers and silos may be classified as storage structures generally used for storing coal, cement,
food grains and other granular materials. Reinforced concrete bunkers and silos have almost
replaced the steel storage structures because of their easy maintenance and superior architectural
qualities. The present day cement factories invariably opt for single or a battery of silos to store
the manufactured cement. The development of slip form method of tall cylindrical reinforced
concrete structure has resulted in rapid construction of silos.

6.2 Difference between Bunkers and Silos

A. Bunkers
Bunkers are shallow structures in which the plane of rupture of the material stored meets
the top horizontal surface of the material before meeting the opposite sides of the
structure, as shown in fig.5.1.
The angle of rupture is at ( 90+ɸ ) from the horizontal, where ɸ is the angle of repose of the
2

material.
The side wall resist the lateral pressure and the total load of the material is supported on
the floor of the bunker. The intensity of lateral pressure on the sides is determined by
Rankin’s theory.
B. Silos
In silos, the vertical walls are considerably taller than the lateral dimension resulting in a
tall structure. Consequently the plane of rupture of the material stored meets the opposite
side of the structure before meeting the top horizontal surface of the material as shown in
fig.5.2.

b
h

h
90+ɸ
90+ɸ

2 ɸ
2 ɸ

Fig. 6.1 Bunker or shallow bin Fig. 6.2 Silo or Deep bin

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Due to the high ratio of height to the lateral dimensions, a significant portion of the load is
resisted by friction between the material and the wall. Only a fraction of the total weight of the
material acts on the floor of the structure.
If B= Breadth
H= Height of the structure
ɸ= angle of repose
For a structure to be classified as a silo,

6.3 Design of Square or Rectangular Bunkers

The structural elements of a bunker are as shown in Fig.5.3.
The various parts are:
1. The vertical side wall
2. Hopper bottom
3. Edge beam
4. columns

Fig.6.3 structural elements of a bunker

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 Fig.6.4. pressure intensity on walls of a bunker

Where a=Angle of surcharge

ɸ= Angle of repose
w=density of stored material

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The thickness of side wall is designed for maximum bending moment. The reinforcement in the
walls are designed for bending moment and direct tension.
If M= bending moment
T=tension
X=distance between the center of section and reinforcement position

sst =permissible tensile stress in steel

d= effective depth of side wall

Q=design constant
j=lever arm factor
b=width of section

Ast=area of tensile steel

Then the effective depth is given by

These reinforcements are arranged in the horizontal direction. Distribution steel is provided in
the vertical direction. At top and bottom of the vertical walls, edge beams of 300mm section are
provided to allow for attachments of conveyer supports.
II. Design of hopper bottom
The hopper bottom which is a sloping slab is designed for direct tension developed due to the
weight of the material and the self-weight of the sloping slab.
Referring to Fig. 6.5 (a and b)
If wt=weight of the material, sloping bottom etc.

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 The direct tension=wt*cscϴ
Where ϴ=angle between the horizontal and the sloping slab.

Fig. 6.5 forces acting on hopper bottom

The sloping slab is considered to span horizontally between the intersections of the adjacent
sloping faces. The section of the slab at the center of the slop is designed.
If W= density of the stored material
h= average height at center of slope
L=effective span at center of slope.

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6.4 Design of Circular Bankers
In the case of bunkers, circular in shape the vertical walls are subjected to hoop tension.
If D =diameter of the bunker
Ph =horizontal component of pressure at a depth h from the top,
Then
Hoop tension = 0.5*Ph*D
The reinforcement in the walls are designed to resist the hoop tension. A minimum thickness of
120mm is recommended from practical considerations for the vertical walls. Distribution
reinforcement of 0.12 percent of the gross cross section is provided in the vertical direction.
The hopper bottom is designed for direct tension and hoop tension developed due to the normal
pressure on the sloping slab.
The columns of bunkers are designed for compression and bending developed due to the vertical
loads such as the stored material and self-weight of the members and horizontal loads such as
wind loads.

6.5 Design Example Ch-6-1

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 Fig 6.6 Dimension of bunker

The volume capacity of bunker is computed given below:

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 =

= )

1.25

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Use 6mm diameter bars at 240mm centers in the direction of slope faces.
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6. Edge beam
Provide edge beams of 300mm by 300mm connecting the corner columns at the top and the
junction of vertical walls and sloping slab. The detailing of reinforcement in the side
walls, hopper bottom and edge beams are shown in fig. 5.7.

Fig. 6.7 Reinforcement detail in bunker

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6.6 Design Example Ch-6-2
Design a circular cylindrical bunker to store 20 tons of coal. Density of coal = 9KN/m3,
angle of repose=30o.use limit state method of design and adopt characteristics strength of
concrete and steel as 15 and 415N/mm2. Sketch the details of reinforcements in the bunker.

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6.7 Design of Silos
In deep bin (SILOS), the weight of the material stored is not completely supported by the
bottom of the silos. A part of the load is resisted by friction between material and wall of silo,
resulting in the reduction of lateral pressure. The vertical weight carried by the walls causes
direct compression in the walls.
The pressure intensity in silos where friction exists between material and wall surface can
be determined by H. Janssen’s and W. Airy’s theories.

a) Janssen’s Theory
The following assumption are made in the design of silos by Janssen’s theory;
i. The material is uniform in texture
ii. The material has a definite angle of repose
iii. The coefficient of friction between material and side wall has a constant value.
The following notations are adapted in the analysis by Janssen’s theory;
2
Ph = Horizontal intensity of pressure at a depth h (KN/m )
2
Pv =Vertical intensity of pressure at a depth h (KN/m )

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 Fig. equilibrium of forces in silos

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( − )

a) Airy’s Theory
Airy’s theory of design of silos is based on coulomb’s wedge theory of earth pressure. The
results obtained from this theory also fairly agree with the experimental results although the basis
of the theory is different from that of Janssen’s theory. Using Airy’s formula, horizontal pressure

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per unit length of the periphery and position of plane of rupture can be determined. Knowing
the horizontal pressure, vertical pressure and also vertical load taken by wall can be evaluated.
Depending upon the plane of rupture two cases are considered.

Case-1 plane of rupture cuts the top horizontal surface

Referring to the following Fig, the forces acting on the wedge ACE of grain is given below:
AE=Plane of rupture
W=Weight of the wedge
R1=Total reaction on side AC
R2=Total reaction on side AE
P= Reaction from wall
R=Reaction from material
b= Diameter of the silo
h=Height of the silo

Fig. Equilibrium of forces (shallow bin)

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Case-2 plane of rupture cuts opposite side (deep bin or silo)
Referring to the following Fig, the forces acting on the wedge ACDE of grain is given below;
W=Weight of wedge ACDE

Fig. Equilibrium of forces (deep bin)

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6.8 Design Example Ch-6-3
A cylindrical silo has an internal diameter of 6m and 20m deep (cylindrical portion) with a
conical hopper bottom. The material stored is wheat with a density of 8kN/m3. The
coefficient of friction between wall and material is 0.44. The ratio of horizontal to vertical
pressure intensity is 0.4.

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