On the impact interaction of a falling corn kernel on the concrete bottom of a silo

Abstract

The article presents a method for determining the impact interaction of a corn kernel when it falls onto a massive concrete base. It is known that at the initial stage of loading high-altitude silo structures with loose grain material, falling grains hitting the concrete bottom of the silos can be injured or completely destroyed. At the same time, the damaged grain, which will be in the lower part of the silo, begins to breathe intensively, which in turn leads to self-heating of the embankment with the subsequent possibility of monolith formation. This in turn complicates the unloading process. To determine the potential energy during the impulse interaction of individual corn kernels, the energy balance equation was used. With the help of which it was theoretically established that the potential energy of a corn kernel depends on its mass and the speed of fall. Based on experimental studies, it was found that when corn kernels of the same variety with the same physical and mechanical properties fall from significant heights, the potential energy increases linearly, that is, it increases with increasing fall height. Studies have shown that when a grain hits a stationary base, shock waves arise that propagate intensively throughout the grain. The speed of wave propagation during the impact interaction of a grain of corn with a stationary base depends on the mass of the grain and the height of the fall. Thus, when corn grains are dropped from a height of 30 meters, the speed of shock wave propagation is 110 m/s, while the total duration of the impact does not exceed 0,00016 seconds. Based on studies conducted on the fall of corn grains from different heights onto a stationary base, the dependence of the height of the grain rebound on the height of the fall was obtained. This made it possible to determine the recovery coefficient for corn grains. It is кв = 0,455. The obtained experimental data on the impact interaction of corn grains with a massive concrete bottom indicate that for careful loading of grain into silos without injury, it is necessary to install special brake loading devices in their middle.