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This Event has been organised by the Bulk Materials Handling Technical Activity Committee of the Process Industries Division of the IMechE. It is hosted by the Process Industries Division and promoted across the Process Industries Community. which includes the Centres in the North West and Yorkshire Regions, the Aberdeen Area, the North East area. 

The presentation will review common causes of structural failure or distress of silos, based on case studies of real incidents over a number of decades.  Silos, especially metal ones, fail with much higher frequency than other structures, and are uniquely susceptible to progressive failure that can trigger sudden and complete collapse with no prior warning, after years of trouble-free service. 

The causes of failure will be seen to be many and varied, ranging from the use of inappropriate bulk solids properties in design, lack of recognition of the likelihood of eccentric discharge and use of inappropriate design codes, to inadequate peer review of calculations to find mistakes, poor workmanship in fabrication and assembly, and inadequate maintenance.  However, most of the failures reviewed will be seen to have been avoidable through the proper application of current knowledge, good manufacturing practice, quality control and management procedures.  

A very common underlying cause of these failures is the lack of knowledge of the risks and the proper procedures, amongst those responsible for the specification, design, manufacture, assembly, utilisation and maintenance of silos.  This is especially worrying in the current demographic climate wherein many young engineers with no formal training in the discipline are being recruited to replace experienced hands who are retiring in large numbers. 

The webinar will conclude with some recommendations for designers, builders and owners of silos in order to promote reduction of the risks of failure.  It will also highlight areas where more needs to be done to understand, model, predict and contain the risks.

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