• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.90 no.6
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• pp.577-590
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• 2024

Considering the Column-Supported Group Silos (CSGSs) often arranged by rows in practical applications, earthquake responses will be affected by group effect. Since group effect presenting uncertainties, establishing the analytic model and evaluating characteristics of CSGSs seems necessary. This study aimed at providing a simplified method to evaluate seismic performances of the CSGSs. Firstly, the CSGSs with different storage granule heights are used as numerical examples to derive the base shear formula for three-particle dynamic analytical model. Then, the base shear distribution coefficient is defined as the group effect index. The simplified calculation method of the group silos based on the distribution coefficients is proposed. Finally, based on the empty, half, and full granular storage conditions, the empirical design parameters for the group silos system are given by combining finite element simulation with shaking table test. The group effect of storage granule heights of group silos on its frequency and base shear are studied by comparative analysis between group silos and independent single silo. The results show that the frequency of CSGSs decreases with the increasing weight of the stored granule. The connection between the column top and silo bottom plate is vulnerable, and structural measures should be strengthened to improve its damage resistance. In case of different storage granule heights, distribution coefficients are effective to reconstruction the group effect. The complex calculations of seismic response for CSGSs can be avoided by adopting the empirical distribution coefficients obtained in this study. The proposed method provides a theoretical reference for evaluation on the seismic performances of the CSGSs.