Comprehensive Review on the Dynamic and Seismic Behavior of Flat-Bottom Cylindrical Silos Filled With Granular Material

Abstract

The seismic design of industrial flat-bottom ground-supported silos filled with granular material still presents several challenges to be addressed. They are related to the main aspects which differentiate silo structures containing granular material from other civil structural typologies: 1) the relatively low silo structure mass as compared to the ensiled content mass; 2) the granular nature of the ensiled material. Indeed, the internal actions in the structural members are governed by the complex dynamic interactions along the interfaces between granular content and silo wall or base, or even the internal interaction between particles. More in detail, even though the scientific interest in such complex interactions dates back to the middle of the 19th century, several issues are still unclear such as the dependency of the fundamental dynamic properties (period of vibration and damping ratio) on the characteristics of the dynamic excitation (intensity, frequency content, duration) or the amount of ensiled material mass activated during a seismic excitation and provoking extra pressures on the wall (effective mass). Therefore, most of current seismic code provisions for silos are grounded on rather approximate and simplified assumptions leading to often over-conservative evaluations. The present paper intends to provide a comprehensive summary of the mainly acknowledged experimental and theoretical advances in the dynamic and seismic behavior of silos, supporting the potential researcher in the field to understand the real differences between the code assumptions and recommendations and the actual conditions, as well as illustrating the open issues to be still further investigated.

On the Adaptability and Effect of High Damping Rubber Bearings in the Seismic Resistance of Large Aqueducts

“…Te above equation shows that the dynamic water pressure varied with time, which is a function of the horizontal and vertical coordinates and is related to the potential function Φ(x, z, t). Unfortunately, the series of equivalent models developed in recent years can only represent the dynamic water pressure in the input seismic direction, which cannot represent the dynamic water pressure perpendicular to the input seismic direction [2]. In dealing with the hydrodynamic pressure in the aqueduct, the author considered both the hydrodynamic pressure component in the direction of seismic acceleration and the hydrodynamic pressure component perpendicular to the direction of seismic acceleration and, based on reference [20], proposed a practical engineering method of fnite element method to solve the interaction between the water and the aqueduct.…”

“…In recent decades, the most remarkable innovations in the world of earthquake engineering, such as seismic isolation, energy dissipation and damping, and structural control technology systems [1], have provided the basis for improving the seismic performance of large aqueducts. Great achievements have also been made in the study of structural dynamics and seismic performances [2]. Although large aqueducts start late in seismic isolation and damping, they develop quickly.…”

Seismic Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Silos under Far-Field and Near-Fault Earthquakes

“…The seismic behavior of elevated type reinforced concrete silos was evaluated in the initial conditions [11,12] and while silo discharging [13]. Nevertheless, the silo wall rigidity is inspected for silos subjected to ground motions [14] and the response of the ensiled material under earthquakes [15]. Furthermore, a study was implemented to discuss the causes of the major failures in singular silos [16] and a group of silos under seismic excitation [17].…”

Comparative Studies between Frequency Domain Analysis and Time Domain Analysis on Free-Field One-Dimensional Shear Wave Propagation

“…In particular, many research results have been published on the underground silo as a radioactive waste repository [1,12], the Since the underground silo structure has been used for many purposes, various studies have been published on earthquake responses as well as structural safety of underground silos in many countries around the world. In particular, many research results have been published on the underground silo as a radioactive waste repository [1,12], the definition of the underground silo as a structure [13], the effect of friction with walls or floors [14,15], and the seismic vulnerability problem of all containers [16,17]. However, unfortunately, there is little research on the seismic analysis of rocks around underground silos for LILW disposal facilities [12,18].…”