Abstract—This paper introduces finite element analysis of Run off Mine (ROM) silo subjected to dynamic loading. The proposed procedure is based on the use of theoretical equations to come up with pressure and forces exerted by Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) ore to the silo wall. Finite Element Analysis of the silo involves the use of CAD software (AutoCAD) for3D creation and CAE software (T-FLEX) for the simulation work with an optimization routine to minimize the mass and also ensure structural stiffness and stability. In this research an efficient way to design and analysis of a silo in 3D T-FLEX (CAD) program was created the silo to stay within the constrains and so as to know the points of failure due dynamic loading. Keywords— Reinforced concrete silo, Finite element analysis, T- FLEX software. NOMENCLATURE D= silo diameter H= silo height K =Janssen ratio of horizontal pressure to vertical Z= distance along the silo wall starting at the point of feeders =bulk density μ= coefficient of sliding friction between bulk solid and wall = wall friction v= Poisson ratio I. INTRODUCTION silo is a structure for storing bulk materials such as grain, coal, cement, black, woodchips, food products, sawdust and ore. Silos are widely used in agriculture, mining and manufacturing industries to store grain (maize and soya beans) , fluids (oil and fuel), cement and platinum ores. There are three types of silos which are commonly used today mainly tower silos, bunker silos, and bag silos. In this research project mainly focus on ROM Silos for storing PGMs from mining. Silos are used to store the ore temporally waiting to discharge it to the Semi Autogeneous Mill (SAG) and there is need of constant supply. Kelvin Tengende, Dept. of Mechatronics, Chinhoyi University of Technology P.O Box 7724 Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. Tawanda Mushiri, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; University of Johannesburg, P.O Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa. Talon Garikayi, Harare Institute of Technology, P O Box BE277 Belvedere, Harare, Zimbabwe. Current designs are based on simplified interpretations of experimental observations in the light of very simple theories. It is widely recognized [1], however, it was found difficult to obtain reliable information from these experiments. Over the last two decades, a major effort in many countries has been put into developing computational models for the behavior of granular solids such as platinum ore (PGMs) in silos [3]. A. BACKGROUND Many industrial, mining and farm silos, bins, and hoppers for storing powders, bulk solids, experience some degree of failure each year. These silos fail frequency is even much higher than that of almost any other industrial equipment; the failure is attributed to complete and catastrophic collapse of the structure. In other cases, failure involves only distortion or deformation [2]. The silo failure results in a loss of human life, downtime, and need for repair and structural failure is always costly as it is unplanned in the financial budgets. The owner usually faces extreme expense of lost production and repairs; personnel in the vicinity are exposed to significant danger. The life span of a silo can be divided into three distinct phases: design, construction, and utilization. The phases are the numerous opportunities for errors that can result in structural failure. For example the failure of the fly ash silo in 2003 and the majority of structural failures of bins and silos can be attributed to a combination of several deficiencies or errors [3]. Moreover there are other factors such as temperature and moisture which also contribute to unusual loading condition and which will result in higher hoop stress. September evening in 1996 in south-western USA, a 9000 ton silo collapsed after two weeks it was filled to full capacity and the observation shows that there was poor maintenance and overutilization the collapse structure is shown below in Figure 1. Fig. 1 A 9 000ton silo split apart about two weeks after it was first filled to full capacity Finite Element Analysis of ROM Silo Subjected to 5000 tons Monotonic Loads at an Anonymous Mine in Zimbabwe Kelvin Tengende, Tawanda Mushiri, and Talon Garikayi A International Conference on challenges in IT, Engineering and Technology (ICCIET’2014) July 17-18, 2014 Phuket (Thailand) http://dx.doi.org/10.15242/IIE.E0714049 79