Influence of Hopper Eccentricity on Discharge of Cylindrical Mass Flow Silos with Rigid Walls
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 132, Issue 9
Abstract
The influence of hopper eccentricity on silo discharge has always concerned researchers. Eccentric discharge brings about asymmetries in the distribution of normal pressures, the values of which are not known with precision. This study presents a three-dimensional model of the dynamic discharge of a silo with an eccentric hopper, considering the Drucker-Prager plasticity model for the behavior of stored material. The results obtained for different hopper eccentricities reveal that pressures decrease in the hopper along the generatrix of the silo above the outlet, as compared to the opposite side. An increase in normal pressures occurs at this generatrix, as compared to the diametrically opposite generatrix, in the lower part of the cylindrical wall above the silo-hopper transition.
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Acknowledgments
The writers are grateful to the CICYT (Spanish Research and Technology Commission) for funding this project (AGL2002-02973). Pablo Vidal is grateful to the mobility program of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena for granting his stay at the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 132 • Issue 9 • September 2006
Pages: 1026 - 1033
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 4, 2005
Accepted: Feb 15, 2006
Published online: Sep 1, 2006
Published in print: Sep 2006
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Ching S. Chang
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