The design of storage structures requires, above all, the calculation of the normal pressures on silos walls. Two methods of calulation are generally used, the analytical and the numerical method. The analytical method is generally used for practical and rapid calculations of the silos. However, if we consider the complex behaviour of the ensiled material, the effect of the wall flexibility and the behaviour of the material-wall interface, only a numerical finite element technique can be used. Earlier studies, using this method, often consider a complex behaviour of the ensiled material. Our aim is to study the pressure distributions in circular s ilos with flexible walls and to show that comparatively simple finite element techniques, which include appropriate wall friction characteristics, can accuratelyb model the pressures exerted by stored solids on silos walls in filling conditions. Four different contact ements are applied the interface: two for the cylindrical section and two for the contical section. The performance of this method is very satisfactory compared to the experimental results for squeat and slender silos. It can be noted that the use of a very sophisticated behafviour law for ensiled material is not necessary, whereas an exact modelliing of the wall friction is vital.
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