Towering Silo Collapses and Completely Turns to Dust in Mere Seconds

There is something uniquely mesmerizing about watching any sort of tower collapse into the ground. Within seconds, a structure that must have taken months to construct becomes a pile of dust and bricks. This vid was posted by the Structural Failures Twitter account which claims to post “structural failures and collapses, including some aircraft, bridges, dams, and radio masts/towers.” It’s not clear whether this is a planned or unplanned demolition but it is fascinating to watch! Scroll down to watch the full video of the smoothest and most graceful collapse.

Watch The Incredible Footage Below!

The History of Silos

Silos are essentially outbuildings that are tall structures designed to store bulk material. In agriculture they are often used to store silage and grain. They are also used to store coal, woodchips, cement, sawdust and even food products in industrial settings.

In terms of agriculture, they were common by the 1890s and were often seen adjacent to dairy barns. The earliest silos were usually made of wood and were square but later designs could be made from stone. They also had gable roofs. During the 1900s, polygonal wood silos of eight or ten sides became more popular. However, there were structural issues with these angular designs. They had corner air pockets that allowed spoilage of the contents. Internal pressure made them susceptible to bowing and they often got damaged by wind. Engineers soon discovered that round silos withstood pressure better were superior for storing materials.

Round wooden silos were constructed up until the 1940s. They were like a large, tall barrel made of vertical, grooved wooden staves held together by adjustable steel hoops. These were gradually replaced by concrete stave silos. This type of silo was constructed from interlocking rings of poured concrete. Some are still being built today although steel silos were introduced in the 1960s and 1970s.

Concrete Stave Silos

Concrete stave silos are now constructed from precast concrete blocks, called staves, that interlock. The staves are usually 10 inches wide, 30 inches tall, and at least two inches thick but can be more than five inches thick if needed. The silos are reinforced with exterior galvanized steel hoops which provide structural integrity. The joints are sealed with coatings whilst bonding and waterproofing agents seal the joints for corrosion protection. Obviously, the steel hoops are usually removed prior to demolition!