This twenty-second manual in the GEO5 engineering series focuses on analyzing the settlement of a circular silo foundation using the Finite Element Method (FEM) with axial symmetry. The manual provides a detailed guide to modeling and analyzing the foundation’s settlement under the load of a fully filled silo and after subsequent unloading. Available for download, this manual is essential for geotechnical engineers involved in the design and assessment of silo foundations.

Learning Objective:

The goal of this manual is to teach users how to perform a settlement analysis of a circular silo foundation using the FEM program in GEO5. Users will learn how to set up axial symmetry models, apply surcharge loads, and analyze settlement behavior under different loading conditions, ensuring accurate and reliable foundation designs.

Assignment Description:

In this assignment, users are tasked with determining the settlement of a circular silo foundation with a diameter of 20.0 meters and a thickness of 0.5 meters, induced by a 150 kPa surcharge from the silo’s content. The analysis involves three construction stages: primary geostatic stress, loading the foundation with the full silo, and assessing the settlement after unloading. The manual guides users through each step, including setting up the model, applying loads, and interpreting the results for settlement and internal forces.

Outcome:

Upon completing this assignment, users will be able to accurately model and analyze the settlement of circular silo foundations using GEO5 FEM software. They will gain practical experience in handling axial symmetry models, evaluating settlement under loading and unloading conditions, and determining the internal forces for designing appropriate reinforcement.

Conclusions:

The manual concludes that the settlement analysis of the circular silo foundation shows a significant difference between the settlement under full load and after unloading. The analysis reveals that positive bending moments dominate when the silo is full, causing tension in the bottom fibers, while negative moments prevail after unloading, resulting in tension in the upper fibers. These findings are crucial for designing the reinforcement of the foundation.

📥 Download LINK