Monitoring bulk material pressure on bottom of storage using DEM

Abstract

This article focuses on the experimental verification of a mathematical derivation of Janssen's theory, which describes the distribution of pressures within the bulk material and pressure distribution on the walls of storage facilities. The experimental verification is performed in two ways. The first is the real measurement of the load transfer in a bulk material cylinder and the second is similar to the detection of the load transfer through simulations using the DEM method. The aim is to compare the results of the theoretical calculation according to Janssen's theory with the real measurement and a simulation of exactly the same model situation. At the beginning of any design or optimisation of existing transport or storage facilities, the most important is the analysis of the bulk material in the form of measurements of mechanical-physical properties. The analysis methods used are also described here. The pressure at the bottom of a storage container between the methods used showed negligible differences. From this finding, it can be concluded that the DEM method is a very suitable means for verifying the design of transport and storage facilities. The simulations provide important information and insights that can also be used to optimise existing transport or storage facilities.