EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF STRUCTURE ELEMENTS OF METAL SPIRAL-FOLD SILOS

Abstract

 Metal  capacities  for  the  storage  bulk  materials  are  became  widespread  every 
year. The design of the steel spiral-fold silos and the peculiarities of the folding lock are considered 
in  the  article.  The  elements  of  the  rigidity  system  of  prefabricated  metal  silos  from  corrugated 
panels on bolted joints are given. The characteristics of the silo from which the samples were taken 
for the  experiment are described. The mechanical characteristics of DX51D +  Z140 steel, which 
were calculated by testing samples for tension, are given. Samples and equipment for experimental 
study of a folding lock are illustrated. The stages of the experiment are described. The samples were 
loaded with a central tensile load, which was applied in static mode in the range from 0 kN to 21 
kN. The stages of opening the folding lock depending on the tensile load are illustrated. The stages 
of the folding lock’s work are described. The complete character of disclosing of the folding lock to 
its ruination is described.  The character of the folding lock's work in the elastic stage is analyzed. 
The analysis of sample’s relative strains which were measured by AVD-4 is made. It was noted that 
the folding rib and the adjacent shell work in a complex stressed state. The mirror strain gauges 
showed  opposite  signs,  and  as  a  result,  when  the  folding  lock  is  disclosing,  the  silo  wall  is 
compressed on one side and tensioned on the other one.  The samples  after the destroying of the 
folding connection are illustrated, it is noted that the metal was observed areas of thinning of the 
metal and cracks.  
The comparison of research results with the analytical calculations received at designing of a 
design of a silo is made. According to the results of calculations, it was noted that in an empty silo 
under the action of wind load there are not only meridional compressive stresses, but also tensile. 
According to the results of experimental research and comparison of the obtained data with 
analytical calculations, it was found that the operating loads correspond to the initial stage of the 
folding lock' work. The experimentally studied design of the folding lock provides reliable work of 
a silo on design loadings.