The classical formula for the pressure in deep bins containing granular material is derived here employing considerably weaker assumptions than previous derivations. Three important points are established in this rigorous derivation. First, it is shown that the classical formula due to Janssen is a lower bound on the average pressure the granular material can exert on a bin wall rather than necessarily the actual stress. Second, it is shown that Janssen’s assumption of constant vertical stress over the bin’s horizontal cross section is not necessary to obtain his classical formula. Third, it is shown that the coefficient introduced by Janssen should be interpreted as the ratio of the horizontal stress averaged over the lateral boundary perimeter to the vertical stress averaged over the horizontal cross-sectional area of the bin.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
September 1977
Research Papers
The Theory of Static Loads in Bins
S. C. Cowin
S. C. Cowin
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, La.
Search for other works by this author on:
S. C. Cowin
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, La.
J. Appl. Mech. Sep 1977, 44(3): 409-412 (4 pages)
Published Online: September 1, 1977
Article history
Received:
October 1, 1976
Revised:
January 1, 1977
Online:
July 12, 2010
Citation
Cowin, S. C. (September 1, 1977). "The Theory of Static Loads in Bins." ASME. J. Appl. Mech. September 1977; 44(3): 409–412. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3424092
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Related Articles
Effect of Wrapping Force on the Effective Elastic Behavior of Packed Cylinders
J. Appl. Mech (March,2023)
Some Remarks on the Equilibrium of Granular Materials Described by Constitutive Relations That Depend on the Gradients of the Density or Volume Fraction
J. Eng. Mater. Technol (October,2020)
Size Effects in a Slowly Sheared Granular Media
J. Appl. Mech (September,2001)
Coulomb–Mohr Granular Materials: Quasi-static Flows and the Highly Frictional Limit
Appl. Mech. Rev (November,2008)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
End Plugs for External Pressure Tests of Composite Cylinders
Composite Materials: Testing and Design
Compressive Deformation of Hot-Applied Rubberized Asphalt Waterproofing
Roofing Research and Standards Development: 10th Volume
PC-Based Stress-Measuring System for On-Line Quality Control of Tempered and Heat-Strengthened Glass
The Use of Glass in Buildings