Horizontal Connectors for Grain Bin Shear Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large grain bins face shear failures and structural damage during single pass sweeping due to excessive horizontal loads, which conventional anchor bolts and vertical stiffeners are unable to withstand effectively, necessitating multiple passes and bin entry for auger extension, compromising safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of horizontal connectors between vertical stiffeners and the foundation provides a secondary support structure that, in combination with the primary support structure, is sufficient to handle the forces generated by single pass sweeping, reducing the load on anchor bolts and eliminating the need for bin entry during unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional anchor bolts and vertical stiffeners are used for large grain bins, then the structure can support basic loads, but the structure experiences shear failures and structural damage during single pass sweeping due to excessive horizontal loads
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple independent components: primary vertical stiffeners, secondary vertical stiffeners, horizontal connectors, and anchor bolts. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific portions of the complex load spectrum, with the horizontal connector specifically addressing horizontal shear forces during single pass sweeping that the conventional system cannot withstand
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a horizontal dimension to the support system by introducing horizontal connectors that span between vertical stiffeners and connect to the foundation. This creates a three-dimensional bracing system that effectively resists horizontal shear forces generated during single pass sweeping, transforming the load path from purely vertical to a combined vertical-horizontal system
2Reliability
If multiple pass sweeping is used to reduce horizontal loads, then structural damage is reduced, but bin entry is required for auger extension which compromises safety and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal connectors and secondary stiffeners are pre-installed on the bin structure before operation. This preliminary structural reinforcement enables the bin to safely handle single pass sweeping loads, eliminating the need for multiple passes and the associated safety risks of bin entry for auger extension
3Stability of the object's composition
If the number and size of anchor bolts are increased to accommodate horizontal loads, then some structural stability is improved, but shear failures still occur under single pass sweeping loads in large diameter bins
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple support elements into an integrated load transfer system. The horizontal connectors work in conjunction with vertical stiffeners, secondary stiffeners, and anchor bolts to create a unified structural system that distributes and resists horizontal shear forces more effectively than any single component could alone, preventing shear failures during single pass sweeping
Data Source
AI summary
A granular material storage container and associated method. The storage container includes a foundation, a peripheral wall supported on the foundation, a plurality of vertical stiffeners attached to the peripheral wall, and a horizontal connector connecting the peripheral wall to the foundation. The horizontal connector extends between at least a pair of vertical stiffeners and operates for load transfer from the peripheral wall to the foundation during single pass sweeping.