F
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING IN SILOS
T
An interview with Dennis Bossink, Structural Engineer, TSC Top Silo Constructions By TSC Silos, The Netherlands
he development of square silos, how exciting can this be? It is a question that TSC Silos staff members are frequently asked. This is sufficient reason to delve deeper into our world. In this article, Structural Engineer Dennis Bossink, who has been with TSC since November 2013, describes his profession; Calculating solid silo constructions. This is a wonderfully dynamic job full of challenges, according to the enthusiastic professional.
More than a silo
At the start of the conversation, Dennis makes it instantly clear, “Many people think a silo is only the cylindrical storage of bulk goods. However, our square silos go much further than that. We build entire constructions as an integrated component of factories all over the whole world. Thanks to our knowledge of various norms and location-specific parameters we can design and calculate constructions that can resist all types of weather conditions, meet the architectural points of departure and naturally also the wishes of the client.” He explains, “We build entire constructions as an integrated component of factories all over the world.”
Parameter 1: Location-specific variables
The construction that TSC designs, calculates and builds must be able to withstand the forces of nature and adhere to the local norms. Dennis nods enthusiastically and divulges, “Every project is completely different thanks to these location-specific variables. This makes the work beautiful and challenging. For example, there are many location-specific parameters globally that we include in our calculations. In China almost no tolerances are accepted, in America we have to bear in mind hurricanes and in Norway snow load is a major factor.”
Parameter 2: Architectural specifications
Each silo is unique, because each factory is different. For
94 | February 2018 - Milling and Grain
example, Dennis and his team were responsible for designing a silo that had to be built in a huge historical South African factory. The team devised an inventive method to bring the silo segments into the building through a window and to construct it, because the inner walls and roof had to be kept intact during construction. He also remembers the client who wanted to place his silo directly above a railway line well. The construction not only had to resist the vibrations of the trains passing below, but also be fire resistant for 90 minutes. A specially designed construction with fire-resistant coating made this possible. In England, a client realised only during the construction of his factory, where he had designed a round silo, that a square silo offered him more possibilities. A silo was designed on location in just one day from anchors in the foundation up to and including the attachment of the roof construction. Dennis proudly concludes: “After completing such projects, you pause and think… ‘Wow, we really did make it happen!’ It is a challenge to keep our clients as well as ourselves satisfied with inventive solutions that initially seemed impossible!” He said, “It is a challenge to keep our clients as well as ourselves satisfied with inventive solutions”
Parameter 3: User specifications
Every bulk good has its own weight and characteristics, consider mutual cohesion, vulnerability, rawness, hardness, internal movement, flow rate, temperatures, etc. For brewing beer barley and malt are stored in the silo compartments. The raw materials for compound feed can vary daily. Sand and gravel are used for industrial applications, for example. Dennis pointed out, “These parameters are important points of departure for designing the ultimate chute and silo wall. Using our calculations, we can advise the client perfectly on issues such as pressure relief, wall strength, coating, safety, accessibility, hygiene, wear resistance and possible risks.”
Learn today, apply tomorrow
Dennis has developed his own programme together with colleague Oscar, among others, in which the recurring parameters