Granular Material Silos under Dynamic Excitation: Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation

The paper presents some results of a recently completed research project funded by the German Science Foundation (DFG) dealing with the behavior of seismically excited granular material silos. A numerical model consisting of up to five components for describing the dynamic behavior of the silo is presented. The intergranular strain approach for hypoplasticity theory has been used for the granular material and soil–structure–interaction effects have also been taken into account. Results of numerical simulations obtained with this model are shown and compared to measurements carried out at a shaking table in Saclay, France. A squat and a slender silo have been simulated numerically in order to check the design loads specified by the European Code for silos subject to seismic loads. It follows that the Eurocode provisions for slender silos are quite good while for squat silos a reduction of the active mass assumed would be in order.