A theoretical analysis of stresses in axially-symmetric hoppers and bunkers

Abstract The previous theory for the vertically-sided silo[1] is extended to converging hoppers with axial symmetry. Stresses developed during the initial filling of the hopper (static conditions) and those developed during flow (dynamic conditions) are distinguished, and the large switch stresses that may exist during the change from static to dynamic conditions are derived. The previous theory [1] is combined with the present analysis in considering the stresses that exist within an axially-symmetric bunker. Switch stresses are calculated and reasons put forward to explain the wide scatter of experimentally measured normal wall stresses in the literature. It is suggested that the present analysis is suitable for estimating wall stresses for use in structural design.