Application 1-v.

2014
Timber silo design
Design the structural members of a timber silo which stocks cereals. The
silo has a circular shape in horizontal section and it is loaded by load P. The
volume of the silo is Vs and the silo diameter is noted with Ds. The roof
beam and the silo columns are made from oak for students with even (trad.
par) number and fir for students with odd (trad. impar) n = odd
The main input data are:
1. personal number, n;
2. the silo volume, Vs=20+0,1n [m3];
3. the silo diameter, Ds=2+0,05n [m];
4. the permanent load, P=1,5+0,05n [kN/m2];
5. the variable load, S=2+0.01n [kN/m2];
6. allowable deflection, fadm=L/250;
7. slenderness ratio, =120.
The total loads at the roof level are given by dead load P and snow load S.
The silo is situated in a covered zone so the wind load is neglected.
The roof beam is considered with a rectangular cross section and the silo
columns (central and marginal columns) with round cross section.
The characteristic strengths and the stiffness properties are given in tables.
The design procedure will be using limit states design method (LSDM).
The problems which must be solved in the current application are:
I. design of the roof beam
II. design of the central and marginal columns
III. drawing plans:
a. front view of the silo,
b. two cross section of the silo at the different levels (top and
the middle sides)

q
q
h

Laf

RA

L=Ds/2

I. Design of the roof beam

RB

Step 1
Determination of the load q and imposing the cross section of the beam
h/b=1.5 recommended section (b=1015 cm)
D
q P s [kN/m]
360
Step 2
Drawing of the bending moment diagram and the shear forces
Mmax maximum value of bending moment
Tmax maximum value of shear force
Step 3

Checking of the strength condition

Pag. 76, LSDM timber structures, Pag 10 NP 005 - 96
c
(M)max < Mr = Rdi = Ri Wn mTi k mod,i

c
(T)max < Lr = Rdf = R f //

Rdi
Rdf
Mr
Lr
Rci
Ri
Rf//
mTi

kmod,I
mui

mdi

Ri mTiWn
i

R f // mTf bI
bI
mTf k mod,i
S
f // S

design bending resistance

design shear resistance
resisting moment
resisting shear force
design bending strength
characteristic bending strength
characteristic shear strength
The coefficient due to the use of Coef. de tratare
preservative substances
tab 4.1 NP 005
tab Timber str
Modification factor taking into account the effect on the
strength parameters of the duration of the actions and the
moisture content
Working condition coefficient or Coef ai conditiilor de lucru
modification factor,
functie de clasa de
pag. 52, Timber
exploatare a materialului
tab. 2.5 NP 005
lemnos
Working condition coefficient or Coef. ai cond. de lucru

[Nmm]
[Nmm]
softwood
[Nmm]
[N]

16,8 [N/mm2] 28,0 [N/mm2]

2,7 [N/mm2]
5,7 [N/mm2]
1,0 (no treated wood)
0,9 (lemn ignifugat)
= muimdi
1,00

1,00

clasa I de
exploatare

clasa I de
exploatare

0,55

0,60

perm load
2

hardwood
[Nmm]
[N]

modification factor,
fctie de durata de actiune
tab. 2.10 Timber
a incarcarilor
tab 2.6 NP 005
factors for shear parallel to the Aceeasi coef
grain

kmod,f

perm load
variable load
clasa I de exploatare

mdf
muf
i

the partial safety factor for the

material property for bending
the partial safety factor for the
material property for shear
Modulus of elasticity
density

f//

EL

Step 4

0,65

0,70

variable load

= mufmdf
0,55
0,65
1,00
1,10

0,60
0,70
1,00
1,10

1,25

1,25

10000 [N/mm2] 11500 [N/mm2]

410 [Kg/m3]
610 [Kg/m3]

Checking of the deflection under the loads

See page 88 from Timber structures
f max f max, final f1 f 2 f 3 f 4 fadm

f1
f2
f3
f4
kdef

Deflection of the beam due to the Sageata datorata incarc. permanente

permanent loads
Deflection of the beam due to the Sageata datorata incarc. temporare
variable loads
Deflection
of
the
joints Sageata din curgerea lenta a
deformation
imbinarilor
Tab 3.3 - NP 005
- nu este cazul
Precamber of the beam in the Contrasageata initiala a grinzii
unloaded state
incarcate
- pt l< 6,00 m nu avem contrasageata
Deformation factors, =0,00 1,00 Functie de clasa de exploatare si de
Table 3.2 NP 005
durata incarcarilor.

Beam deflection f1 and f2 are evaluated with the following equation:

f i f i ,init (1 k def )
f 1 f p (1 k def )

kdef = 0.50
f 2 f t (1 k def )

kdef = 0.25
I second moment of inertia [mm4]

Wn nominal value of section modulus [mm3]

Wn = Ixx/y = bh2/6
S - first moment of area [mm3]
S = b h/2 h/4 = bh2/8
II. Column design: central and marginal
II.1. Central column subjected to axial compression forces
The effective value must be compared with permissible strengths given by the cods and
standards following limit states design method LSDM
Step 1. Determination of the load N
d

N = 8VA
q

lf=l/2
for wood
lf=0,65l

L=Ds/2

VA

VB
VB

Step 2. Checking of the strength condition

N c C r Rdc R cc// Ac mTc k mod,c

1 0,8

100

Rc
Ac mTc
c

[N ]

, when 75

3100
, when 75
2

II.2. Marginal column

The marginal column is subjected to axial compression force and bending moment.
Step 1. Determination of the load N
N = VB
Step 2

Drawing of the bending moment diagram and the axial forces

Mmax maximum value of bending moment
Nmax maximum value of axial compression force

The condition ecuation (force method):

4

X1

11 X 1 1 p 0

1 p

11

mm
H H H H3
dy

EI
2 3
6
0

11

1 p

mM p

dy ............ ......

EI

N
X=1

l
lf
2
H

q=gH
L

X
M

for wood
lf=0,80l

VB
q=gHL
L = 2R/8

H*1

Mp

qH

Mmax

X, N, q positioned on column so that the axial force, the shear force and the bending
moment can be drawn.
Step 3. Checking of the strength condition
f
N c M ef

1
Cr
Mr
where
R
M r Rdi Ric Wn mTi kmod,i i Wn mTi [ N mm]
i
Cr Rdc R cc // Ac mTc k mod, c

Rc
Ac mTc
c

[N ]

f
The maximum value of the final bending moment M ef is given by eq.

1
1 Nc

CE

M eff M ef ,max

[ Nmm]

and
C E 2 E 0, 05 mu , E mTE

I
l 2f

Rdc=Cr
Rc

design compression resistance

characteristic
compression
strength, the value are given in

softwood
[Nmm]
12 [N/mm2]

hardwood
[Nmm]
15,8 [N/mm2]

16,8 [N/mm2]
[N]

28,0 [N/mm2]

NP005, tab 2.3

Ri
CE

characteristic bending strength

Axial compression force applied
on moment direction

the partial safety factor for the

material
property
for
compression
the partial safety factor for the
material property for bending
Modification factor taking into account the effect on the
strength parameters of the duration of the actions and the
moisture content
Working condition coefficient or Coef ai cond de lucru fct
modification factor,
de clasa de exploatare a
T. S. pag. 52, NP005 tab. 2.5
materialului lemnos
Working condition coefficient or Coef. ai cond. de lucru
modification factor,
fctie de durata de actiune
T.S. tab. 2.10, NP005 tab 2.6
a incarcarilor

i
kmod,I
mui
mdi

Efort
axial
de
compresiune pe directia
de aplicare a momentului

1,25

1,25

1,10

1,10

= muimdi
1,00

1,00

clasa I de
exploatare

clasa I de
exploatare

0,55

0,60

perm load

0,65

0,70

variable load

Buckling coefficient

muE,

Working condition factor

mTE
E0,05
E//
Mmax,ef
I
lf

NP005 tab 2.5

and tab 4.1

Coef. ai cond. de lucru

fctie de solicitare si de
clasele de exploatare

1,00 Clasa I de exploatare

1,00 lemn netratat

=0,67 E//
Characteristic elasticity modulus
parallel to grain direction
A
Maximum
effective bending
A
moment, Mmax
Second moment area
Effective length

Hs

Hs
B
B
Section A-A

Section B-B

6
Ds

Ds

References
1. Ilya Mikhelson (2004), Structural engineering formulas, McGraw-Hill, New York.