SILOS for Cement and Other Industries

This Book explains principles of designing of Silos and their construction techniques.

           This Book is basically limited to Concrete and steel Silos, though the approach and principles in general are applicable for other Silos also.

           Very few books were available on Silos. Books by Manning, Ketchum and, Faber and Mead were useful for their pressures calculations and structural design. International Codes of Practice on silo Design, like DIN (1964) and ACI (1977) were introduced subsequently. But they were satisfactory when silo sizes were small; about 12m dia. maximum. These were based on semi-empirical approaches for pressures calculation. Due to this limitation, structural and functional failures of Silos happened sporadically.

           During 1985, Safarian and Haris published their excellent voluminous treatise on Silos design and construction. Their book includes provisions of International codes of Practice at that time from Germany, USA, France, Soviet Union and suggestions from many international practicing Design Engineers.

           Subsequently, some of the International codes were revised based on the latest findings of research and practical observation results. With the introduction of the Euro Code on Silos, other Codes were revised. This book gives recommendations of these codes; viz. DIN, Euro and others codes & highlights the limitations of these codes.

           The main uncertain issue had been the computation of material pressures on silo walls and their bottom structures. Starting with historical developments of Silos since 1770s, this Book covers up to their causes of failures and the remedial measures. Silo strengthening measures are also mentioned.

           Worked out examples of material pressures computations as per the current Codes of practice are included to help proper understanding of the principles of calculation of pressures and structural design.

           It is expected that this Book would be very useful as a guide to young Engineers interested in the design of Silos structures and will serve as a reference to Practicing Engineers. Many practical suggestions are included on both design and construction aspects of the Silos.