Stability of cylindrical steel silos composed of corrugated sheets and columns based on FE analyses versus Eurocode 3 approach

Comprehensive static and dynamic 3D stability FE analyses of a cylindrical steel silo composed of corrugated sheets and vertical stiffeners were carried out by taking the geometric and material non-linearity. The silo was subjected to axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric loads imposed by a bulk solid following Eurocode 1. Theoretical and measured initial geometric imperfections were considered in calculations. The differences between static and dynamic analysis results were discussed. The results of non-linear analyses were compared to those according to Eurocode 3. A modification of the Eurocode formulae was proposed. Some recommendations for the silo engineering design were elaborated.