If its true that hoppers and silos were first being built towards the end of the 18TH century but it took 100 years before Roberts, Janssen and Airy started to investigate and develop theories about pressures caused by bulk solids then is it any surprise that the reliable design of these is still trying to play catch up? I note that in Wisconsin and Michigan farmers were building silos in wood and fieldstone in the 1870s but has anyone else got any further historical information? I am interested in learning a bit about the history of hoppers and silos, their uses and the problems for some research work and would welcome your help. Obviously Dr Jenike is the guy who sorted out silo design and perhaps its salient that he did so about 60 years after Janssens work. My question is really about the history of the use and design shortcomings of silos. I would have thought that the knowledge produced by Airy and Janssen would have caused a bit of a sensation because presumably silos were built for hydrostatic loads previously. Is it the case that 100 years ago the driving design criterea was how much can you get in and the outlet to suit the feeder (just as it is nowadays a lot of the time!) rather than thoughtfulness about wall slope and outlet size. Any historical references or thoughts would be welcome. ■
If you know the history
If its true that hoppers and silos were first being built towards the end of the 18TH century but it took 100 years before Roberts, Janssen and Airy started to investigate and develop theories about pressures caused by bulk solids then is it any surprise that the reliable design of these is still trying to play catch up? I note that in Wisconsin and Michigan farmers were building silos in wood and fieldstone in the 1870s but has anyone else got any further historical information? I am interested in learning a bit about the history of hoppers and silos, their uses and the problems for some research work and would welcome your help. Obviously Dr Jenike is the guy who sorted out silo design and perhaps its salient that he did so about 60 years after Janssens work. My question is really about the history of the use and design shortcomings of silos. I would have thought that the knowledge produced by Airy and Janssen would have caused a bit of a sensation because presumably silos were built for hydrostatic loads previously. Is it the case that 100 years ago the driving design criterea was how much can you get in and the outlet to suit the feeder (just as it is nowadays a lot of the time!) rather than thoughtfulness about wall slope and outlet size. Any historical references or thoughts would be welcome. ■