The Strength and Flexural Buckling Resistance of Steel Cylindrical Silos Shells

The article focuses on the structural analysis of a steel cylindrical silo with a corrugated wall, following the guidelines of EN 1993-4-1 standard. The resistance and stability of silo vertical stiffeners under axisymmetric loads during grain storage are being studied. The design model of the ribs is based on a centrally compressed column. In the plane of minimal rigidity, it is further elastically supported by corrugated sheets of a cylindrical shell. The resistance and stability of ribs are analysed using design models of various levels of detail, ranging from simple analytical to complex finite element models. The analysis compares different design models, highlights their pros and cons, and provides recommendations for their practical use.