FINITE ELEMENT MODEL FOR PREDICTING STATIC AND THERMALLY INDUCED BIN WALL PRESSURES.

A second generation finite element model (FEM) was developed to predict static and thermal lateral pressures in grain storage bins. The en masse stress-strain behavior of the stored wheat was modeled using an elastoplastic theory. Interaction between the bin wall and wheat, and bin floor and wheat was described using an interface element. The relationship between shear stress-relative displacement for the interface was assumed to be exponential. The FEM was validated against the experimental data from a scaled model bin. Results showed that the FEM adequately predicted lateral static pressures with and without surcharge. The average difference between the FEM predicted and the mean measured lateral thermal pressures at 10 degree C temperature drop was 18. 1% of the mean measured values. However, the FEM predicted thermal pressures are within the 95% confidence interval for the data for a 10 degree C temperature drop.