Seismic Performance of a Multifloor Grain Warehouse With a Self‐Centering Configuration Considering Grain‐Structure Interaction

ABSTRACT

The seismic response of multifloor grain warehouses is affected by grain–structure interaction, whereas the application of a self‐centering configuration to heavily loaded storage structures remains limited. Refined nonlinear finite‐element models are established for a multifloor grain warehouse with a self‐centering configuration (SC) and traditional configuration (TS), with the modeling strategy benchmarked against previous experimental results. The seismic responses of the two configurations are compared under ground motions and filling conditions from empty to fully filled. The SC configuration exhibits lower natural frequencies than the TS configuration, with relative reductions of about 30%–42% in the analyzed cases. The difference in seismic response demand between the two configurations becomes more evident as stored‐grain mass increases. Under the fully filled condition, the SC configuration reduces peak floor acceleration by about 20%–27% and maximum interstory drift ratio by about 25%–35% relative to the TS configuration. Lower dynamic lateral grain pressure and overpressure coefficients are observed along the warehouse walls, particularly in shallow regions. These results indicate that the SC configuration can reduce acceleration demand, deformation demand, and dynamic lateral grain pressure response in multifloor grain warehouses, with the effect becoming more evident at higher filling levels.