PNNL

Abstract

The rheology of a single coarse granular powder has been studied with shear vane rotational viscometry. The torque required to maintain constant rotation of a vane tool in a confined bed of glass beads (with a mean particle size of 203 micrometers) is measured as a function of vane immersion depth and rotational speed. The resulting torque profiles exhibit both Coulombic behavior at low rotational rates and fluid-like behavior at high rotational rates. Analyzing vane shaft and end effects allows the flow dynamics at the cylindrical and top and bottom disk surfaces of vane rotation to be determined. Disk surfaces show a uniform torque profile consistent with Coulombic friction over most of the rotational rates studied. In contrast, cylindrical surfaces show both frictional and collisional torque contributions, with significant dynamic torque increases at deep immersion depths and fast vane rotation. A recently proposed constitutive equation is used to model the flow behavior. Semi-quantitative prediction is achieved at rotational rates both below 0.5 rad/s and above 10 rad/s. At slow vane speeds, the bed appears to be governed by a Janssen type normal stress distribution such that pressure saturates at deep immersions. This occurs because internal stresses are transmitted to the vane and container walls. For fast vane rotation, the particles in the vicinity of the vane behave as if they were fully fluidized, and the normal stress distributions influencing granular rheology are primarily lithostatic. Prediction at rotational rates from 0.5 rad/s to 10 rad/s is complicated by changes in the granular microstructure and stress fields resulting from partial fluidization of the bed. Overall, it is possible to characterize the quasi-static and partially fluidized flow regimes with a vane rheometer. Knowledge of how the granular normal stress profile changes as the granular material is fluidized could enable prediction in the intermediate flow regime.