In this study, a series of discrete element simulations were performed to elucidate the mechanical behavior of particulate materials and their efect on silo wall loads during filling and discharge. The wall pressures were evaluated using a moving average method and the effect of the averaging length of 5 to 15 times the mean particle size was explored. The evaluated wall pressure distribution was quite well represented by a least squares fit to the Janssen theory, which also yielded interesting measures of macroscopic performance.
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