Summary

The aim of this experiment was to observe how pressure changed with increase in mass at the
bottom of a container when solid particles were stored, and to verify the Jansen equation. When
granular solids are placed in a bin or silo, the vertical pressure on the vessel floor is much
smaller than that exerted by a column of liquid of same density and height. The actual pressure
from solid depends on value of coefficient of friction between solids and vessel wall. In this
experiment a long column was taken in which sand was added in certain noted quantities and
weight exerted in the column was noted along with height of column. After a while it was seen
the weight exerted stopped increasing. Then flow out of a bin was measured experimentally from
which angle of internal friction was calculated. Using this value coefficient of friction, ratio of
normal pressure to applied pressure was obtained. From this theoretical and experimental values
of base pressure were obtained. The values range from 54.82 kg/m
2
and 317.96 kg/m
2
for
experimental base pressure and between 53.16kg/m
2
and 95.36 kg/m
2
for theoretical base
pressure. A graph was plotted using experimental and theoretical base pressure values against
height of sand column.
Experimental Set-up


Figure 1: Experimental Setup for study of pressure in masses of particles

Observed Data
Particle diameter, D
p
, size range= -50+60 mesh
Diameter of long bin, D = 6 inch
Diameter of opening of short bin, D
0
= 0.5 inch


Table 1: Table of observed data for measuring flow rate






No. of
Obs
Weight of sand
(kg)
Time
(Sec)
Rate of discharge
(kg/min)
01. 2.268 60 2.268
Table 2: Table of observed data for the weight and height of the sand bed
No. of
Observation
Mass of sand
(kg)
Weight of sand in column
(kg)
Height of sand in column,Z
(inch)
01. 1 1 0.5
02. 2 2 1.75
03. 3 2.6 3
04. 4 3.3 5
05. 5 3.8 6.8
06. 6 4.15 7.6
07. 7 4.45 9
08. 8 4.7 10.7
09. 9 4.9 12
10. 10 5.05 13.6
11. 11 5.2 15.1
12. 12 5.35 16.6
13. 13 5.45 18.2
14. 14 5.55 19.7
15. 15 5.6 21
16. 16 5.7 22.8
17. 17 5.75 24.2
18. 18 5.8 25.8

Calculated Data
Particle Diameter, D
p
= 0.0099 inch
1

Particle Density,
p
= 165.75 lb/ft
3

= 2655 kg/m
3


Table 3: Calculated data for bulk density, experimental and theoretical base pressure

Number of
Observation
Cumulative
sand weight
taken,
M (kg)
Cumulative Sand
weight in the
column,
W (kg)
Height of
sand,
Z (m)
Bulk
density,

b

(kg/m
3
)

Experimental
base
pressure,
P
BE
(kg/m
2
)
Theoretical
base
pressure,
P
BT
(kg/m
2
)

1 1 1 0.0127 4316.547 54.82 53.16
2 2 2 0.04445 2466.598 109.64 98.56
3 3 2.6 0.0762 1870.504 142.53 119.03
4 4 3.3 0.127 1424.460 180.91 134.84
5 5 3.8 0.17272 1206.094 208.32 140.76
6 6 4.15 0.19304 1178.531 227.50 147.36
7 7 4.45 0.2286 1067.146 243.95 147.01

1
Foust et al, Principles of unit operation, 2
nd
edition, page 701

8 8 4.7 0.27178 948.0267 257.65 142.69
9 9 4.9 0.3048 881.295 268.62 139.79
10 10 5.05 0.34544 801.418 276.84 133.79
11 11 5.2 0.38354 743.246 285.06 128.87
12 12 5.35 0.42164 695.588 293.29 124.33
13 13 5.45 0.46228 646.296 298.77 118.56
14 14 5.55 0.50038 608.0415 304.25 113.76
15 15 5.6 0.5334 575.539 306.99 109.20
16 16 5.7 0.57912 539.568 312.47 104.02
17 17 5.75 0.61468 512.813 315.22 99.85
18 18 5.8 0.65532 485.193 317.96 95.36

Sample Calculation
Particle Diameter, D
p
= 0.0099 inch
Particle Density,
p
= 165.75 lb/ft
3

= 2655 kg/m
3

Diameter of bin, D = 6 inch = 0.1524 m
Diameter of the discharge opening, D
0
= 0.5 inch = 0.0127 m
Area of large bin, A = ( D
2
)/4
= (3.1416 0.1524
2
)/4
= 0.01824 m
2
n=3
Calculation of angle of internal friction
The solid discharge rate; = 2.268 kg/min=5lb/min
Now, the empirical discharge rate equation,

=

p
D
o
n
6.288tan
m
+23.16D
p
+1.889-44.90


or,5=
165.750.5
3
6.288tan
m
+23.160.0099+1.889-44.90


or, tan
m
= 0.4242
Angle of internal friction,
m
= 22.987

Ratio of pressures, k =
1- sin
m

1+sin
m

=0.4383
Co-efficient of friction, = tan
m
= 0.4242
For third set of observed Data,
Experimental base pressure,
P
BE
=

=
2.6
0.01824

= 142.5323 kg/m
2
Bulk density of particle,
b
=



=
2.6
0.01824 0.0762

= 1870.504 kg/m
3

Theoretical base pressure using Janssen Equation
P
BT
=
( )
(

r
z k
c b
e
k
g g r
' ' 2
1
' ' 2
/

=
(

0254 . 0 6
0762 . 0 4383 . 0 4242 . 0 2
1
4383 . 0 4242 . 0 2
1 504 . 1870 ) 0254 . 0 6 (
e

= 119.033 kg/m
2

Graphical Representation

Base pressure vs. Height of column of solids for experimental and theoretical values


Graph 1: Graphical representation of theoretical and experimental values of Base Pressure against
Height of column of solids.

Results
Angle of internal friction, o
m
= 22.987
Co-efficient of friction, ' = 0.4242
Ratio of normal pressure to applied pressure, k' = 0.4383
Table 4: Comparison of experimental and theoretical base pressure with height of sand
Height of sand,
z
(m)
Experimental base
pressure,
P
BE

(kg/m
2
)
Theoretical base
pressure,
P
BT
(kg/m
2
)

0.0127 54.82 53.16
0.04445 109.64 98.56
0.0762 142.53 119.03
0.127 180.91 134.84
0.17272 208.32 140.76
0.19304 227.50 147.36
0.2286 243.95 147.01
0.27178 257.65 142.69
0.3048 268.62 139.79
0.34544 276.84 133.79
0.38354 285.06 128.87
0.42164 293.29 124.33
0.46228 298.77 118.56
0.50038 304.25 113.76
0.5334 306.99 109.20
0.57912 312.47 104.02
0.61468 315.22 99.85
0.65532 317.96 95.36
Discussions
The graph obtained contained two curves, the first one being the experimental base pressure
against height of column of solids and the second one being the theoretical base pressure against
the same heights of column of solids. The experimental values showed that after reaching a
certain height of solid in the bin, even with addition of more solid, increase in height was
observed but it did not affect the base pressure. Rather the base pressure became almost constant.
This similarity with theoretical plot justifies the Jansen equation.

The plot contained three main regions. The first region started from zero and showed a linear
relationship similar to liquid (upto 0.03 m bed height). At this low pressure particles had not
interlocked with each other and wall friction was negligible. The second region showed
exponential form (upto bed height about 0.62 m). In that part interlocking and wall friction both
Figure 2: Three regions observed in the graph
became important with the increase of sand height. And the third or last region was almost
horizontal and showed constant pressure as the additional mass was carried by the support of the
vessel.
Using the values obtained experimentally and known factors, theoretical base pressures were
calculated and it was seen that after a certain height the base pressures started decreasing instead
of remaining constant.
From the results obtained it was found that the experimental values were between 54.82 kg/m
2

and 317.96 kg/m
2
. The theoretical values were found to be between 53.16kg/m
2
and 95.36 kg/m
2

where the pressure had risen and then fell again. The mass flow rate was found to be 2.268
kg/min. The mass flow rate depends on gravity, diameter of the opening and the nature of the
granular solids. The reason which caused the theoretical base pressure to fall was mainly friction
between the wall and the solid particles, and the interlocking of solid particles. The frictional
force caused the weight of the solid to spread and reduced the pressure exerted by the mass on
the base of the container. Thus it can be said interlocking of particle causes distribution of
pressure on wall side reducing the base pressure.
In general, when the height of solids column is greater than about 3 times the diameter of
container, additional solids have no effect on pressure at the base. Although total mass increases,
additional mass is carried by the walls and foundations. The diameter of the base of cylinder was
6 inches and after reaching 18.2 inches, it was observed that weight exerted increased very
slightly with each addition.
High pressure usually causes a liquid material to flow, but in case of granular solids it packs the
grains even more closely and makes flow difficult. In extreme cases this might cause solids to
arch or bridge.
The reasons that caused the variation in theoretical and experimental base pressure are discussed
below:
- One of the main assumption of Jansen Equation is that the particles are spherical, which
might not occur in practical.
- The angle of internal friction is an experimental parameter and its value might change for
non homogeneity of particles.
- The weighing machine readings were taken with utmost care but some instrumental error
might be present.
- As the sand bed was filled manually it was not possible to evenly distribute the sand over
the entire surface so readings taken might have deviated from actual values slightly.
The experiment was performed with utmost care and effort. However the results can be
improved greatly if more readings were taken. The experiment performed provided knowledge
of pressure distribution characteristics for solid and also gave idea about basic structure of silos,
bins and hoppers for solid storage.