Evaluation of pressures in slender silos varying hopper angle and silo slenderness

In this paper, we report the results for pressures in a full-scale silo obtained from assays performed on a test station using a free-flowing product. Six different types of silo geometry (slenderness and hopper angle) were tested by filling the silo to the height of interest and observing a static phase (10 min) followed by complete discharge. Our results show that discharge flow is not influenced by silo slenderness. The lateral pressure ratio and values obtained for vertical stress in the stored material at the transition were higher than those given in the Eurocode 1, part 4. In addition, the maximum frictional pressures in the cylinder showed peaks that exceeded the standard, as did the maximum normal pressure in the cylinder with maximum slenderness and mass flow (hopper β = 15°). [Display omitted] •Static and dynamic pressures were studied.•Discharge flow rate is not influenced by slenderness, only flow pattern.•The moment of the maximum pressure in the hopper is influenced by the flow pattern.•Friction pressures in the cylinder exceeded those calculated by Eurocode 1, part 4.•Static pressure is influenced by the slenderness and hopper inclination.