The demand for storage structures has

increased due to increase of population.

Bunkers and silos are constructed of the
following purpose used for storing coal,
cement, food grains and other granular
materials. The bunkers and silos made of
reinforced concrete have almost replaced the
steel storage structures. Concrete bins possess
less maintenance and other architectural
qualities greater than steel storage tanks.
silo
Bunker
Bunker or Shallow bin.
 3. DESCRIPTION OF SILO

In a silo, the vertical walls are considerably taller

than the lateral dimensions resulting in a tall
structure(h>b). Consequently the plane of rupture
of the material stored meets the opposite sides of
the structure before meeting the top horizontal
surface of the material.
Due to the high ratio of height to the lateral
dimensions , a significant portion of the load is
restricted by friction between the material and the
wall.
Silo or deep bin
 4. OBJECTIVE

1.Under standing of analysis, design and detailing

concept.
2. Main objective learning “Janssen’s theory of
pressure calculations” method for silo.
4. The intensity of lateral pressure on he sides is
determined by Rankine’s theory for bunker.
3. Know the component of bunker and silo.
 5. DESIGN METHODOLOGY
Design procedure of bunker

Calculate the volume.

 Calculate the dimension according to volume.
Design the cylindrical wall according to the
horizontal pressure.
Provide reinforcement in cylindrical wall to resist
hoop tension.
Design of hopper bottom.
Provide reinforcement to resist hoop tension
 Design Procedure of silo

Design of cylindrical wall.

To resist hoop tension and tensile stress provide
reinforcement.
Design hopper bottom.
Provide reinforcement in hopper bottom to resist
direct tension.
Provide reinforcement as hoop reinforcement.
 6. ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
Analysis and design of bunker
1. Data
Find density of material in Kn/M3
Then find total weight of material in Kn
Angle of repose ( angle of repose is always less than
[(90+Ø)/2])
2. Characteristic strength and partial partial safety factor
Concrete grade
Steel grade
Concrete partial safety factor=1.5
Steel partial safety factor=1.15
Partial safety factor for dead and live loads=1.5
3. Dimension of bunker
First find volume of bunker- Total weight of material/ Density of
material
Height of cylindrical portion = h m
Diameter of cylindrical portion = D m
Depth of hopper bottom= d m
Height of surcharge=1.15 tan30°
Volume of surcharge= πr2h
Volume of cylindrical portion=πr2h

Volume of frustrum cone= (d12 + d1d2 + d22)

Total volume=

( Volume of surcharge + Volume of cylindrical portion + Volume of

frustrum cone ) > Volume of material (Hence ok)
4. Design of cylindrical wall
Horizontal pressure, P= Wh cos2θ
Hoop tension in cylindrical tension=

Ultimate hoop tension= 1.5 x hoop tension

Area of reinforcement, Ast = Ultimate hoop
tension/0.87x grade of steel
Given thickness of wall
Minm reinforcement= (Thickness of wall x1000
x0.0012)
Using reinforcement to resist hoop tension and given
vertical direction also
5. Design of hopper bottom
Provide sloping slab thickness with lining.
Total thickness= Sloping slab thickness + lining
Weight of material = Total volume x Density of material
Find Weight of sloping bottom
Total load= Weight of material+ Weight of sloping
bottom
If T= tension per meter run
Provide mean dia at centre of sloping slab
Find T
Ultimate tension= (1.5 x T)
Steel reinforcement for direct tension=
(Ultimate tension x103/0.87 x Grade of reinforcement)
 .
Provide reinforcement to resist direct tension.
Find normal component of material pressure at
centre of sloping slab is given by:
Pn =wh(cos2 θ + cos2Ф sin2θ)
Where, w= Density of material in kn/m3,
h= Height of cylindrical portion +(0.5x Depth of
hopper bottom)
Normal component due to weight of the sloping
slab = wd cos θ
Total normal pressure, P= ( Pn + wd cosθ)
Provide mean diameter at centre of sloping slab
Find hoop tension/metre
Ultimate hoop tension= (1.5x Hoop tension)
Area of hoop reinforcement = Ultimate hoop
reinforcement x103/0.87x Grade of steel
But minimum area of steel = 0.0012x Total thickness of
hopper bottom x1000
Use hoop reinforcement in the sloping slab.
Analysis and design of silo
1. Data
Diameter of silo in m
Depth of cylindrical portion in m
Density of material ( W ) in kn/m3
Coefficient of friction between wall and material is µ
The ratio of horizontal to vertical pressure intensity
Angle of repose is always less than 30°
Typical of reinforcements means grade of steel
Grade of concrete
2. Dimensions of bunker
Diameter of bunker = D m
Height of bunker = h m
Depth of hopper bottom = 2.5m
Diameter of opening in hopper bottom = 1m
3. Design of cylindrical walls
Using janssen,s theory:
Horizontal pressure = Ph = {1-exp( )}
n=
R = Hydraulic mean radius =
0.5PhD
 Horizontal pressure in silo walls
(h) Meters Horizontal pressure
Depth from top Ph = kn/m2
4
8
12
16
20
Minimum area of hoop reinforcement = (0.0012 x
Thickness of cylindrical wall x 1000)
Provide vertical reinforcements (temperature
reinforcements) throughout the silo from top to
bottom.
4. Design of hopper bottom

Provide a sloping slab with lining.

Total thickness = Sloping slab + Lining
Find Surcharge load on hopper bottom / meter.
Find Weight of sloping bottom.
Total load = (Surcharge load on hopper bottom + Weight of
sloping bottom)
If Tu = Ultimate tension per meter run
Provide mean diameter at centre of sloping slab.
Reinforcement provide to resist direct tension.
Minimum reinforcement = (0.0012x Thickness of sloping slab x
1000)
Provide reinforcement in the direction of the sloping
slab.
Surcharge pressure create on hopper bottom.
Maximum horizontal pressure in hopper bottom Ph.
If Pn = Normal pressure intensity
Pn = (1.35 cos2 θ+Ph sin2θ)
Normal component due to self weight of sloping slab
= Wd cosθ
Total normal pressure = P = Pn+ Wd cosθ
Find mean dia of sloping slab is computed.
Hoop tension per meter = (0.5x Total normal pressure x Mean
dia of sloping slab )

Ultimate hoop tension per meter = 1.5 x Hoop tension

Area of hoop reinforcement = Ultimate hoop tension x
1000/0.87 x Grade of steel
Minimum reinforcement = (0.0012 x Sloping slab x 1000)
Provide reinforcement as hoop reinforcement.
 CONCLUSION

In this unit have studied about the basic theories and design
philosophy of bunkers and silo. After reading this unit, it can
understand the theories related the bunker and silo. The
design procedures are given for easy understanding. After
studying, you are able to design the bunkers and silo. The
project involves analysis and design of various methods such
as Airy-’s Theory and Janssen’s Theory.