Static and Dynamic Wall Pressures in Experimental Mass Flow Hoppers

Though there are several theoretical studies on the wall pressures produced in storage hoppers, very few experimental investigations on the dynamic wall pressures are reported in the literature. Mass flow hoppers have the decisive advantage over the conventional funnel flow hoppers in that the wall pressures produced are consistent. In this paper, static and dynamic wall pressures measured by a small pressure-sensitive radiopill, in axial-symmetrical and plane-strain experimental perspex mass flow hoppers, are reported. The experimental results suggest the existence of the radial stress fields in the convergent section of the hoppers and agree with the theoretical results of Janseen, Jenike and Walker. Stop/start operation is found to have no effect on the dynamic wall pressures. Some suggestions are made which are useful for the structural design of mass flow hoppers. © 1974.