Limit Plasticity Approach to Piping in Bins

The plastic limit analysis method is adopted to derive a criterion for piping in particulate solids discharged from prismatic and cylindrical bins. Plane, rectangular, and circular cross sections of empty channels (pipes) are considered. Utilizing the kinematic approach, various mechanisms of failure of the material surrounding an empty channel are discussed. The geometry of a stable channel is related to the material strength parameters c and φ, specific weight γ, and geometry of the bin; safe estimate to the piping criterion is given.