The 22th KKCNN Symposium on Civil Engineering

31 October - 2 November, 2009, Thailand

Stress Distributions in Storage Silo under Uniform Vertical Pressure

T. Pipatpongsa1, H. Sokbil2, P. Wattanachai3 & S. Likitlersuang4
1

Global Scientific Information & Computing Center, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan
Department of International Development Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan
3
Department of Civil Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
4
Department of Civil Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
pthira@gsic.titech.ac.jp, hengsokbil@ide.titech.ac.jp
pitiwat@eng.cmu.ac.th, fceslk@eng.chula.ac.th

ABSTRACT
Janssens bin effect has a great impact to a wide range of engineering applications and theoretical
developments which relate to granular materials. Though being modeled as continuous body in static
of mechanics, a phenomenon of saturation pressure strikes a different behavior of granular medium
from fluid and solid. The problem of storage silo under uniform vertical pressure was investigated in
two-dimensional system of equilibrium. Two choices of vertical plane where a ratio of radial stress to
normal stress is constant are considered based on Janssens approach as well as Jakys approach. Exact
stress solutions based on both approaches are generalized in cylindrical coordinates and are validated
with boundary conditions at the top layer and at the great depth of silo. Despite of similar solutions
obtained at the great depth, it was found that a constant coefficient of lateral pressure must be applied
to the center line as suggested by Jaky, implying storage silo is stable in at-rest state.
Introduction
Agricultural grains, chemical powders, pharmaceutical products and etc. are frequently stocked in tall
silos for storage and transportation. To design a silo based on strength of walls, it requires knowing the
granular material forces acting on the wall and the base. Silo design is greatly improved due to the
pioneered work of Janssen (1895) who laid the foundations for understanding of the behavior of a
static granular system confined by silo walls through his mathematical derivation and experiments on
corn. His observations revealed that pressure on the base did not linearly increase with height of filled
corn. Moreover when loading to the specific height, the basal pressure was ultimately limited by the
saturation pressure which does not increase despite pouring more corn. Actually, the saturation
pressure with depth was initially predicted even earlier in according to Tighe & Sperl (2007). However,
this marvelous phenomenon under silo storage condition is generally known as Janssens bin effect.
The phenomenon of saturation pressure as well as the solution to approximate vertical pressure has
been widely recognized in both physics and mechanics. This classical problem remarks a fundamental
aspect of granular matters which strikes a difference from fluid and ordinary solids, therefore
contributing a great impact to a wide range of engineering applications and theoretical developments.
1
2
3
4

Associate Professor
Doctor Student
Lecturer
Assistant Professor
535

The pressure on the bottom of a column filled with water intuitively grows with the head of water,
thus obeying hydrostatic pressure. But if the column is filled with granular media, the problem of
finding the pressure is more difficult. Unlike a column of water which cannot support shearing forces,
a column of granular media locked together by friction and the friction at the wall help support the
granular columns weight. Therefore, granular materials can be modeled as a continuous media with
slip condition at the walls. Janssen derived his solution from one-dimensional problem based on the
principle of statics by considering the influence of the frictional resistance along vertical side walls of
silo. On the top of that, his analysis relies on two important hypotheses, (1) vertical stress is uniform
across horizontal section and (2) vertical and horizontal stresses are principal stresses. As a
consequence of Janssens hypothesis, the coefficient K equaled to the ratio of the normal pressure r
on the wall to the mean normal pressure z in a horizontal cross section is constant with depth and the
shear stress w on the wall is mobilized and is proportional to the normal pressure r. Obviously, these
assumptions cannot be hold in reality but its simplicity still gives a reasonable estimate. A translation
of his original paper can be found in Sperl (2006). The outline of his theory is summarized in Fig.1.
Advanced analyses always involve a minimum number of hypotheses. By dropping one of
Janssens assumptions, we compensate his second assumption by implementing the analysis to twodimensional problem but we still restrict this study to the first assumption of uniform vertical pressure.
Therefore, radial stress is not hold constant but changed along radial direction. The question that, to
which planes a constant value of K should be applied is of interest. This study generalizes two basic
methods of mechanics in a continuous medium based on the studies of Janssen (1895) in which K is
applied along the wall and Jky (1948) in which K is applied along center line of silo. The
corresponding exact stress solutions in cylindrical coordinates system are formulated for both methods
in order to compare each other. Boundary conditions of zero traction along the top surface of storage
and saturation pressure at the great depth are used to validate the solutions obtained from each method.
By the theoretical view point, the results of this study will indicate the plane of which K should apply
and might reveal whether Rankines coefficient of active earth pressure or coefficient of at-rest earth
pressure is appropriate to silo under the assumption of uniform vertical pressure. However, it is out of
scope in this study to formulate the coefficient of lateral pressure applied in silo problem. Detailed
study about Jky (1948)s at-rest coefficient in granular heap can be found in Pipatpongsa et al. (2009).

P : sectional perimeter
D: sectional width
H : filled height

r
D = 2R

Typical cross-sections
Top of storage
D

A D
=
P 4

cohesionless
material with
constant unit
weight

frictional wall with

coefficient of friction w

z
zc = D ( 4 w K )

z = zc 1 e

z
zc

z + d z

2
2
2

Ddz w
4 D z + 4 D dz = 4 D ( z + d z ) +

 

overburden force

filled weight

reaction force

Lateralpressure: r = K z

A
D
=
P 1+ 2

A D
=
P 2

w dz

differential slice

A
D
=
P 4 3

Uniform
pressure
distribution

Characteristic depth

d z 4 w
+
=
Equilibriumequation:
dz
D
Slipcondition: w = w r

Wall

Wall

r
rz

A D
=
P 4

zc
Saturation pressure

Vertical pressure z zc

Depth z

R = 2 A P : equivalent bin radius

A : sectional area

center of silo

Boundarycondition: z

z =0

frictional resistance

=0

Janssen(1895)ssolution: z =

2
R
1 e
2 w K

wK

z
R

Figure 1. Outlines of Janssen (1895)s bin effect derived from one-dimensional slice split from
granular material with infinitesimal height. Vertical pressure is dependent on equivalent bin radius,
walls coefficient of friction, ratio of lateral to vertical pressure and unit weight of bulk material
while the saturation pressure asymptoting towards a value independent of filled height of material.
536

Basic Background in Two-Dimensional Problem

In storage silo, the equilibrium equations under axi-symmetric co-ordinates (r,z,) are expressed in
radial and vertical directions by

r r zr
+
+
= 0,
r
r
z

(1)

z rz rz
+
+
= ,
r
z
r

(2)

where is bulk unit weight, zr=rz, =r in cylindrical system. A static coefficient of friction between
granular material and silos wall is w. The partial derivatives with respective r taken to Eq.(2)

2 z 2 rz ( rz r )
+
+
= 0,
r z r 2
r

(3)

can be deduced by imposing Janssen (1895)s assumption on constant z hence 2z /rz=0,

2 rz 1 rz rz
+
2 =0.
r 2 r r
r

(4)

The form of Eq.(4) is typified as Euler equation which can be transformed by putting a variable
r=et, the equation becomes a linear homogeneous 2nd-order differential equation
2 rz
rz = 0 ,
t 2

(5)

and can be solved for a general solution transformed back to a variable r

rz = c1et + c2 e t = c1r +

c2
,
r

(6)

reminding that c1 and c2 are functions of z due to partial differentiation. According to Janssen (1895),
shear stress w= rz(r,z)r=R=w(z) at the wall of silo is mobilized, therefore relating to w and w

w = w rw ,

(7)

where w=tanw, w is a frictional angle between wall and granular media having a frictional angle ,
rw=rw(z) is a radial stress exerting to the wall at a given depth z. Due to symmetry of silo, shear

stress vanishes at the centerline, hence rz(r,z)r=R=0. To satisfy both boundary conditions of shear
stress at r=0 and r=R, Eq.(6) reveals c1(z)=w(z)/R and c2(z)=0. Therefore, rz(r,z) is formulated to
r
R

rz = w .

(8)

The form of shear stress as shown by Eq.(8) is identical with shear stress reduction assumption
introduced by Jky (1948). Jky purported that shear stresses in granular media is not mobilized, so he
assumed that shear stress rz=rz(r,z) linearly distributed with radius r, reduced from w at the wall
where r=R to zero at the center line of silo where r=0. Partial derivation with r and z are given

rz w
= ,
r
R

(9)

rz r d w
=
.
z
R dz

(10)

Substitution of Eq.(8)-(9) to Eq.(2) obtains a partial differential equation of z with depth. As

being a function of z alone, Eq.(11) can be integrated with the initial condition having zz=0=0 to
obtain z for a given depth as shown by Eq.(12), keeping w as a function of z left in the integral form
537

2
z d z
=
= w ,
z
dz
R

(11)

z
2

z = w dz .
R
0

(12)

It is clear that z/r=0 therefore the linear reduction of shear stress also results in a uniform
vertical stress z=z(z) over the horizontal plane and vice versa. This unrealistic but simplistic
assumption of the uniform distribution of z across the cross-section of silo is still used in the current
research on the advanced analyses of stress distribution in storage silo, e.g. Rahmoun et al. (2009).
Analytical Method Based on Janssens Approach
Janssen (1895) assumed a constant lateral stress ratio K applied along the silos wall. Therefore, the
radial stress at the wall rw is defined proportional to z. The original derivation of Janssen in onedimensional problem is generalized to two-dimensional problem as follows

rw = r

r=R

= K z ,

(13)

hence Eq.(12) can be integrated to obtain the vertical stress, using Eqs.(7) and (13)

z =

R
z

1 exp 2 w K ,
2 w K
R

(14)

which exactly equal to that derived under one-dimension. Shear stress in Eq.(8) can be expanded to

rz =

1 exp 2 w K ,
R
2

(15)

using Eqs.(7), (13) and (14). Finally, radial stress can be derived from Eq.(1) by integrating the
differential equation from silos radius R to an arbitrary radius r in according to Eqs.(14)-(15)
zr
z
R

2
2
2
dr + K z =
1 exp 2 w K 1 K w (1 r R ) ,
R
2 w
z

R
r

r =

(16)

where rr=R=rw=Kz is a function of z due to Eq.(13).

Saturation stresses asymptotically approached at great depth where z can be obtained by
z

taking limit to Eqs.(14)-(16). It is noted that lim exp 2 w K = 0 because R, K, w > 0.

z
R

z =

= zc , r

z =

= K zc , rz

z =

=r 2,

(17)

where zc is defined as the characteristic depth

zc = R ( 2 w K ) .

(18)

At the top plane where z=0, z and rz vanish to zero, thus satisfying zero traction. However, r
vanish to zero only at the edge of top plane where r=R, resulting in a doubtful pre-compressed r

z =0

= 0 , r

z =0

= K 2 w 2 zc (1 r 2 R 2 ) , rz

z =0

=0,

(19)

therefore, the assumption used by Janssen (1895) through Eq.(13) presents the initial major principal
stress along radial direction on the top plane (see Eq.(19), rz=00). Due to this ambiguity, the
different assumption introduced by Jky (1948) is investigated and adapted to overcome this problem.
538

Analytical Method Based on Jky Approach

Unlike Janssen (1895), Jky (1948) assumed a constant lateral stress ratio K applied along the silos
center line. Hence, the radial stress at the center line ro is defined proportional to z. Jkys original
method involves plastic in upper part and elastic in lower part. His theory in lower part is generalized.

ro = r

= K z ,

(20)

d z
R

.
dz
2

(21)

r =0

and rearrage Eq.(11) to the following form

w =

According to Eq.(1), partial derivative of radial stress can be expanded by incorporating with
Eqs.(10) and (21)

r d w r d 2 z
,
= rz =
=
r
z
R dz 2 dz 2

(22)

hence Eq.(22) can be integrated to obtain the radial stress at the wall, using Eqs.(22)-(21)

r d 2 z
R 2 d 2 z
+

=
+ K z ,
dr
ro
2 dz 2
4 dz 2
0

rw =

(23)

where rw can be determined from the following equation in according to Eqs.(7) and (21)

rw =

w
d z
R
=

w 2w
dz

(24)

then a linear non-homogeneous 2nd-order differential equation is obtained by combining Eqs.(23)-(24)

d 2 z
2 d z 4 K
2
+
+ 2 z
=0.
2
dz
w R dz
R
w R

(25)

The closed-form of z is determined from two boundary conditions at top surface where zz=0=0
and wz=0=0 hence dz/dzz=0=0 due to Eq.(21). Consequently, z is obtained by integrating Eq.(25), r
is derived from z via Eq.(22), and rz is derived from Eqs.(7), (8) and (23).

z
mz 1 + m 2
mz
sinh
cosh
+
,
2m
w R
w R
w R

z = zc 1 exp

2
2

z
mz 1 (1 m ) 1 ( r R )

r = K zc 1 exp
cosh
+
m
w R
w R

rz =

(26)

) 2 sinh mz ,

z
mz 1 + m 2
mz
cosh
sinh
+
1 exp

2
2m
w R
w R
w R

w R

(27)

(28)

where m = 1 4 K w 2 . Though the obtained solutions are different from Jkys original solution and
those obtained by Janssen approach, all solutions give similar results at great depth given by Eqs.(17).
At the top plane, Jky approach satisfies stress-free conditions, i.e. zz=0=rz=0=rzz=0=0, therefore,
Jkys assumption of constant stress ratio K along the center line is more reasonable. That means
stress ratio along the wall where r=R should be varied with depth in according to Eqs.(26)-(27).
539

Illustration and Comparison of Results

The illustrative stress solutions obtained from Janssens and Jkys approaches are shown in Fig.
2 & Fig.3 using =w=30o, w=tanw, K=1-sin, =7.7 kN/m3, R=1 m and H=5 m. Despite of minor
differences near the top boundary, both solutions meet each other at the great depth in saturation stage.

z (kN/m2 )

r (kN/m 2 )

rz (kN/m2 )

1 , 3
(kN/m2 )

Figure 2. Contours of vertical, radial, shear and principal stresses analyzed from Janssens approach

z (kN/m2 )

r (kN/m2 )

rz (kN/m2 )

1 , 3
(kN/m2 )

Figure 3. Contours of vertical, radial, shear and principal stresses analyzed from Jkys approach
Conclusion
Two generalized approaches of bin effect extended from Janssen (1895) and Jky (1948) were
investigated. This study confirmed an assumption of uniform vertical pressure assumed by Janssen is
equivalent to an assumption of linear shear stress reduction assumed by Jky. To satisfy stress-free
condition on the top boundary, a ratio of radial stress to vertical stress which keeps constant with depth
must be applied along the center line, not the silos wall. The result implies the choice of coefficient of
lateral pressure should be at-rest condition, not active condition because slip occurs only at the wall.
References
Jky, J. 1948. Earth pressure in silos. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Soil
Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, ICSMFE. London.
Janssen, H.A. 1895. Versuche ber Getreidedruck in Silozellen (Texts on grain pressure in silos).
Zeitschr. d. Vereines deutscher Ingenieure, 39: 10451049.
Pipatpongsa, T., Heng, S., Iizuka, A. & Ohta, H. 2009. Rationale for coefficient of earth pressure
derived from prismatic sand heap. JSCE Journal of Applied Mechanics, 12: (in press).
Rahmoun, J., Millet, O. & Fortin, J.E. 2009. Friction effect on stresses in ensiled granular media.
Computers and Geotechnics, 36(7): 1113-1124.
Sperl, M. 2006. Experiments on corn pressure in silo cells translation and comment of Janssen's
paper from 1895. Granular Matter, 8(2): 59-65.
Tighe, B. & Sperl, M. 2007. Pressure and motion of dry sand: translation of Hagens paper from 1852.
Granular Matter, 9(3): 141-144.
540