Purpose
The history and development of the practice of manure storage over time in the US is told to educate new stakeholders, illustrate collective industry advancements and failures that have shaped course, and urge support for future success using rational design approaches, especially for concrete liners.
What Did We Do?
From literature and research interviews we layout a narrative for how the practice of manure storage design has changed over time. Change in the practice is traced by examining the development and use of the four major lining materials of earth, steel, plastic and concrete against the larger backdrops of consolidation and increasing environmental caution. Special focus is given to concrete, a lining material with relatively high durability and low permeability but limited rational design methodology.
What Have We Learned?
The practice of manure storage is shown to have advanced over the decades resulting in lower permitted seepage obtained for longer lifespans. This advancement has occurred under pressures for larger storages that are held to higher environmental standards. This advancement has been made possible by the development of existing and new materials, including significant technical support behind them developed by governmental agencies, industries that supply the materials, and engineers who utilize them on farms. In the area of concrete liners there is room for significant advancement to develop near zero seepage liners at feasible cost, through the use of frameworks that are rational (mechanistic-empirical) and quantifiable.
Future Plans
Complete stage gate analysis for obtaining design seepage rates for concrete liners used in manure storage, that are mechanistic based and quantifiable.
Authors
Presenting & corresponding author
Mike Krcmarik, Professional Engineer, mikekrcmarik@gmail.com
Email corresponding author for a copy of the presentation and all collected references.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to acknowledge employees of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, private consulting engineers designing manure storages, state regulators supporting manure storages, and material industry representatives for providing perspectives and resources used in assembling this presentation.
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