Stresses in Inclined Planar Silos

Abstract

This paper presents an approximate solution for the stresses in an inclined planar silo. The solution may be applied to the design of inclined rectangular silos with a large aspect ratio and to the design of mining tunnels. It is based on the assumptions that the stored cohesionless solid is at failure and is fully mobilized against the walls. The pattern of stress distribution across the silo width is assumed to be independent of vertical positions and is derived making use of conditions at a great length. The effects of silo geometrical properties and the properties of the stored solid on the stresses are investigated. The present predictions also show a reasonably close agreement with limited experimental observations available in the literature.