Direct Yield Stress Measurement With The Vane Method

Direct Yield Stress Measurement with the Vane Method
Nguyen Q. Dzuy and D. V. Boger

Citation: Journal of Rheology (1978-present) 29, 335 (1985); doi: 10.1122/1.549794
View online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1122/1.549794
View Table of Contents: http://scitation.aip.org/content/sor/journal/jor2/29/3?ver=pdfcov
Published by the The Society of Rheology
Articles you may be interested in
A slotted plate device for measuring static yield stress
J. Rheol. 45, 1105 (2001); 10.1122/1.1392299
Uniaxial Compression of Bonded and Lubricated Gels
J. Rheol. 29, 671 (1985); 10.1122/1.549821
Couette Viscometer Data Reduction for Materials with a Yield Stress
J. Rheol. 29, 369 (1985); 10.1122/1.549818
Yield Stress Measurement for Concentrated Suspensions
J. Rheol. 27, 321 (1983); 10.1122/1.549709
Relaxation of Shear and Normal Stresses in DoubleStep Shear Deformations for a Polystyrene Solution. A Test
of the DoiEdwards Theory for Polymer Rheology
J. Rheol. 25, 549 (1981); 10.1122/1.549650
Redistribution subject to SOR license or copyright; see http://scitation.aip.org/content/sor/journal/jor2/info/about. Downloaded to IP: 200.130.19.156 On: Sun, 20 Apr 2014
14:55:30
Direct Yield Stress Measurement

with the Vane Method
NGUYEN Q. DZUY* and D. V. BOGER,
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Melbourne,
Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
Synopsis
In the vane method for measuring the yield stress, the conventional analysis
assumes that the stress is uniformly distributed on a cylindrical sheared surface
to calculate the yield stress from the maximum torque and vane dimensions. By
using two simple procedures, the present work shows that this assumption is
justified at the moment of yielding. The yield stress calculated using the proposed
methods compares favorably with that obtained with the conventional procedure. A comparison with the yield stress independently determined by other
methods again confirms the usefulness of the vane technique as a simple but
accurate method for direct yield stress measurement.
INTRODUCTION
The yield stress of concentrated suspensions can be determined

or measured by a large number of techniques.l " " Unfortunately,
many of the existing methods are either tedious to perform or
limited in their applicability. Also, it is not uncommon to find
that, even for a given material, the yield stress values obtained
may vary with the experimental conditions employed." With increasing interest in fluids with a yield stress in numerous industrial applications.Y' ' it is not surprising that considerable effort
has been made to develop better and more reliable techniques for
yield stress rneasurement.l T ' : " Recently, in a critical review on
the subject;' we have demonstrated that the yield stress of flocculated bauxite residue slurries (red mud) could be directly assessed using a simple vane method adapted from soil mechanics.
The yield stress measured with the vane was shown to be in good
* Present address: Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Melbourne,
Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
1985 by The Society of Rheology, Inc. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Journal of Rheology, 29(3), 335-347 (1985) CCC 0148-60551851030335-13$04.00
14:55:30
DZUY AND BOGER
336
N (rpm)
-,--,-""
--.z
.'
f-------i---DT
----------
i , - - .:
~
,
Fig. 1.
Schematic diagram of a four-bladed vane in operation.
agreement with the results obtained by the more conventional

rheological methods. The applicability of the vane method has
also been extended to other systems, e.g., concentrated suspensions of titanium dioxide, uranium oxide and brown coal.!" Following this development, similar successes with the vane on several commercial greases have also been reported."
The principle of the vane method has been fully described elsewhere.l!'' Basically in this method, a four-bladed vane (see Figure 1) immersed in a sample is rotated slowly at a constant rate to
detect the yielding moment when the torque exerted on the vane
shaft reaches a maximum value. The presence of such a maximum in the torque response is a characteristic of yield stress
materials which can be explained by the concept of structural
deformation and breaking of bonds in flocculated systems. I Calculation of the yield stress from the measured maximum torque
requires knowledge of the geometry of the yield surface and the
shear stress distribution on this surface,
The conventional approach employed in soil mechanics" assumes that the material yields along a cylindrical surface having
an area of -rrDH + 2(-rrD 2/4), where D and H are diameter and
length of the vane, respectively, Also, the shear stress is assumed
to be uniformly distributed everywhere on the cylinder, and equal
14:55:30
YIELD STRESS MEASUREMENT
337
to the yield stress (T) when the torque is at maximum (Tm)' With
these assumptions, a simple relationship between Ty , T m' and the
vane dimensions is obtained: 1,1l
TrD (H
-2- ,D
3
Tm
+ 31)Ty
(1)
Although the assumption of the cylindrical yield surface has been

confirmed both experimentally3,1l- 14 and numerically.l" several
questions have been raised concerning the validity of Eq. (1).
Firstly, there is experimental evidence 3,12 - 14 to suggest that the
material may yield along a diameter CDs) that is larger than the
actual diameter of the vane. Earlier studies by Wilson 12 and Arman et al.!" have shown that for soils the observed increase in the
yield area was small and hence introduced insignificant errors to
the yield stress calculated using Eq. (1). Recently, Keentok et
a1. 3,14 have found that the ratio Ds/D can be as large as 1.05 for
some greases, and is apparently dependent on the plastic, thixotropic and elastic properties of the material. However, for inelastic and plastic substances the data published by these workers
have suggested that Ds/D is very close to 1.0. Thus, until the
individual effects due to the fluid rheological behavior can be
separated, and the mechanisms involved are understood, the actual yield area remains a matter for speculation. Furthermore, it
is noted that all the published results I 2 - 14 were based on the observations long after yielding had occurred.
The other reason for suspecting the validity of Eq. (1) is that
the shear stress is not necessarily uniform everywhere on the
cylindrical sheared surface. As briefly mentioned in the previous
article,' the exact nature of the stress distribution has not been
fully understood. A recent attempt using finite elements for an
ideal plastic fluid has merely shown that the stress is highest
near the edge of the vane blades.l" It appears intuitively correct
that the stress is uniform along the side (or wall) of the sheared
cylinder in slow flows, but may vary with radial position on each
of the two circular end surfaces. Theoretical determination of the
end shear stress distribution, however, is a complex threedimensional problem which should take into account the elastic
behavior of the material prior to yielding.
In the present investigation, no attempt is made to solve the
problem analytically. Instead, two simple analyses are proposed
14:55:30
DZUY AND BOGER
338
to calculate the yield stress from the vane data and indirectly
examine the uniform shear stress assumption at the moment of
yielding. In the first analysis, an approximate distribution for the
end shear stress is assumed, whereas in the second method only
the contribution of the wall shear stress to the total stress is
considered. In both analyses the diameter of the cylindrical yield
surface is assumed equal to the vane diameter. The results obtained are compared with the yield stress calculated using Eq. (1)
as well as with the yield stress independently assessed by conventional techniques.
YIELD STRESS CALCULATIONS
Figure 1 is a diagram of a vane fully immersed in a suspension
contained in a large beaker. The depth of immersion of the vane is
described by the distances Zl and Z2' It is assumed that the interference caused by the solid boundaries (wall and bottom of the
container) is absent, and shearing due to the immersed section of
the vane shaft is negligible.
When the vane is set in motion at a constant speed, the total
torque (T) experienced by the shaft is the sum oi T; and 2T e due to
shearing on the side and two ends of the cylindrical shear surface,
respectively. Thus,
T
T; + 2T e
In terms of the shear stresses, it can be shown that
T = ( ; D H )Ts +
2(2'TT
r/
Te r 2dr ) ,
(2)
where Ts is the constant shear stress along the side of the sheared
cylinder, and T e is the end shear stress of unknown distribution. If
T e is assumed constant and equal to Ts> the solution for Eq. (2) is
Eq. (1) at the yielding moment, when T = T m, and Ts = Te = TyMethod I
As an approximation, Te may be arbitrarily assumed to vary
with radial position (r) according to a power relationship:"
Te(r) =
(~')
D m
Ts>
a ~ r~
D
2'
(3)
14:55:30
339
where m is a constant describing the radial distribution function

of T e With Eq. (3), the solution for Eq. (2) is
or in terms of T m and
3(H + _l_)T
2
D
m + 3
TrD
at yielding
Ty
[H
Tm
s,
TrD D +
2"
1
+ 3] Ty'
(4)
To determine both Ty and m simultaneously from experimental

data, Eq. (4) may be rearranged in the following form:
2Tm
TrD 3
_
-
H
Ty
YD + m + 3'
(5)
Thus, if this method is valid, a plot of 2T mlTrD3 versus HID for

vanes of different dimensions will be linear with a slope of Ty and
an intercept of Tyl(m + 3).
Method II
The second proposed analysis makes use of the general torque
balance in Eq. (2) at yielding:
Tm
Tr 2 )
(Vl2
(2 D Ty H + 4Tr Jo
Ter
d r.
(6)
Thus, for vanes of the same diameter but different lengths, the
second term in Eq. (6) should be constant, and an experimental
plot of T m versus H would be linear for a given suspension. From
the slope of this line, the yield stress can be readily calculated,
regardless of the nature of the end shear distribution.
EXPERIMENTAL
Rheological Studies
The suspensions used were red mud which is a residue in the
processing of bauxite to extract alumina. Typical physical, chemical and rheological properties of red mud suspensions have been
described previously.l,10,15 The red mud, provided by Alcoa of
Australia Limited, was tested over a range of solids concentration
14:55:30
DZUY AND BOGER
340
400
% wt Solids
67.6~
t:
a; 200
<Il
..:::
100
1000
2000
3000
Wall shear rate (sec")
Fig. 2.
Shear stress-shear rate data for the red mud suspensions used.
of 57.8% to 68.2% on weight basis. Rheological properties of the

red mud were measured using a capillary rheometer designed to
handle highly concentrated suspensions.l'v'" The results are
shown in Figure 2 in the form of wall shear stress versus shear
rate plots. Inspection of the flow curves reveals the presence of a
yield stress in all concentrations tested. It is noted that at solids
concentrations in excess of 63.2%, the red mud exhibits marked
nonlinear plastic behavior which can be described by either the
Casson model'" or the Herschel and Bulkley model.!? At lower
concentrations, the red mud follows Bingham plastic behavior'"
with shear stress being linearly proportional to shear rate after
the yield stress is exceeded.
Val ues of the yield stress determined indirectly based on
rheological data are compared in Figure 3 in terms of yield stress
versus concentration. The methods employed! are direct extrapolation from the flow curves and extrapolation using model fits. It
is obviously difficult to identify the true yield stress from such
results without considering the applicability of the models employed and the reliability of the rheological data at low shear
rates.' With careful consideration.!" a smooth curve representing the true yield stress of the red mud samples may be constructed as shown in Figure 3. This curve will be used in Figure 7
as a basis for comparison with the yield stress measured directly
using the vane method.
14:55:30

103
i i i
I i i
.)
'E
--/~
341
10
"">=
True
yield s t r e :- / s
I Inferred)
/ .. ..
o
58
60
..
..
62
64
% wt Solids
66
68
Fig. 3. Comparison of the yield stress values determined using different

rheological methods: (0) direct extrapolation, extrapolation using (e) Bingham
model, (0) Herschel and Bulkley, (~) Casson.
Vane Method
Description of the vane apparatus employed and the method of
operation have been given in an earlier paper.' It was established
that the vane should be operated at rotational speeds below 10
rpm to avoid the influence of viscous resistance and instrument
inertia on the measured maximum torque. The standard vane
speed employed throughout the present work was 0.1 rpm. Based
on a detailed study!" of the possible effects of vane dimensions
and system boundaries, the following criteria have been established for satisfactory measurements with the vane method: HID
< 3.5, DTID > 2.0, ZllD > 1.0, and Z21D > 0.5. (See Figure 1 for
definition of the symbols.)
The typical vane test curves are shown in Figure 4 for two red
mud samples at 67.6% and 68.2% solids. These curves, presented
in terms of torque (T) versus angle of rotation (8), were generated
with a single vane (D = 26.15 mm, HID = 1.92). Three distinct
regions of behavior may be observed from the shape of the T-8
curves. At angles of rotation less than about 10 degrees, T is
linearly proportional to 8. In this region, the red mud behaves as
an elastic solid with the degree of elasticity being described by
14:55:30
DZUY AND BOGER
342
20 r----r---..,..----,,....--.,.......-......-----r--~
fi'
15
z
M
~ 10
a;
::>
tr
is
I-
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Angle of rotation, 0 (deg.)
Fig. 4. Typical vane test curves (vane dimensions: D

1.92; vane speed: 0.1 rpm).
26.15 mm, HID
the slope of the linear response. In the second region, an increase

in shear leads to a continuing rise in torque but at a progressively
decreasing rate. Yielding of the sample occurs at e of 20 to 22
degrees, where T reaches a maximum value. Finally with further
increasing shear, the torque declines slowly toward a constant
level.
The presence of a peak in the T -6 curve indicates that the red
mud has a yield stress. The peak becomes more pronounced with
higher solids concentration, or with suspensions exhibiting a
greater degree of structure. 10
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In Figure 5, the quantity 2Tml-rrD3 is plotted as a function of
vane length to diameter ratio according to Eq. (5) in the first
proposed analysis. For the 64.8%, 66.5%, 67.6% and 68.2% suspensions, the data were obtained from measurements with three
vanes with HID varying from 0.95 to 2.0. For the remaining samples, six vanes with HID of 1.0 to 3.3 were used. The linearity of
these plots for all concentrations tested confirms the validity of
Eq. (5) derived from the assumed power law distribution for the
stress T e in Eq. (3). Values of the yield stress and the power law
index m, calculated from the slope and intercept (at zero HID) of
14:55:30
343
600
200
r--...,---r--,......--,
:/
'"o
-.'"
f-
100
'" 200
60.1
~~
2.0
3.0
1.0
2.0
HID
Fig. 5.
3.0
HID
Plots of 2Tml-rrD3 versus HID to test Equation (5).
the lines, are summarized in Table I. Also shown in this table are
the yield stress values calculated using the second proposed
method which requires an experimental plot ofTm versus H based
on Eq. (6). The results presented in Figure 6 for all samples tested
using vanes of the same D but different H also validates the
second approach which does not rely on any specific assumptions
for the end shear stress distribution.
The results obtained from both methods are compared with the
TABLE I
Comparison of the Yield Stress Values Calculated from Vane Data
Using Three Methods
Method I
Method II
Conventional Method
Tv
Std. Dev.
(Nm- 2)
(-)
(N~-2)
y (mean)
wt%
(Nm- 2j
(Nm- 2)
57.8
59.0
60.1
61.6
63.5
64.8
65.8
66.5
67.6
68.2
15.5
19.6
27.7
34.1
39.8
50.9
77.9
109
169
287
-0.063
-0.024
+0.414
+0.332
+0.148
-0.610
+0.019
+0.088
+0.047
+ 0.017
18.8
22.5
30.7
39.7
41.7
52.2
77.6
111
173
296
15.9
20.1
26.1
32.3
41.3
53.6
76.9
109
168
287
0.7
0.9
1.4
1.4
0.2
1.0
2.6
1
3
2
Solids
Ty
14:55:30
DZUY AND BOGER
344
20
65.8
% wt Solids
15
64.8
68.2
10
-:
67.6
E
f-
20
30
H(mml
Fig. 6.
40
50
~
20
40
60
63.5
61.6
601
59.0
57.8
80
H(mml
Plots of T m versus H to test Eq. (6) (vane diameter
25.23 mrn),
yield stress values calculated using Eq. (1). The latter are presented in Table I as average values obtained with more than
three vanes. The small standard deviations also shown in the
table demonstrate no significant effects of absolute vane dimensions on the calculated yield stress.
An analysis of the tabulated data indicates for any given suspension, that the yield stress calculated using Eq. (1) is essentially the same as the yield stress obtained from each of the two
methods employed. Also, the empirical parameter m, which denotes an arbitrary but possible mode of distribution for T e [Eq.
(3)], varies little about zero for all but three samples tested. However, the extreme values of + 0.414, + 0.332 and - 0.610 recorded
for the 60.1%, 61.6% and 64.8% samples respectively, do not constitute a consistent trend in a total of ten observations. It should
be noted from Eq. (4) that a zero-value for m suggests a uniform
distribution of the stress on the two end surfaces and the side of
the yield cylinder. Thus if the present results are an indication,
the usual assumption of a uniform stress distribution everywhere
on the sheared surface may be considered reasonable, at least at
the moment of yielding and in so far as yield stress calculation is
concerned. These results, however, are not sufficient to reach a
firm conclusion about the exact shear stress distribution at any
other stages, i.e., prior to and after yielding.
Of the three methods employed, method II appears to be the
correct way for calculating the yield stress from vane data since
14:55:30

103 I i i
iii
345
Vane method
- - Rheological method
(from Fig. 31
'E
10
-a
0;
;,::
101
58
60
62
,!
64
,!
66
68
% wt Solids
Fig. 7, Comparison of the yield stress measured with the vane method and the
rheological yield stress (from Figure 3).
the end shear stress is avoided in the analysis. The procedure

involved however, is tedious because measurements with more
than two vanes of equal diameter are needed to construct a plot of
T m versus H. Also, the accuracy achieved is not greatly improved
when compared with the conventional method which requires
only a single vane test, The latter is thus more attractive and
preferable for practical work because it represents a simple, quick
and direct method for yield stress measurement.
Having established the procedure employed for yield stress calculationin the vane method, it is also of importance to ascertain
whether the measured quantity can be identified with the
rheological yield stress determined earlier. In Figure 7, the vane
results (as data points) calculated using Eq. (1) are superimposed
on the yield stress data (as a solid curve) taken from Figure 3.
Over the whole range of concentrations investigated, the comparison indicates a remarkable agreement between the yield
stress measured with the vane and the yield values determined
by means of the usual rheological methods. In line with the previous studies'r' the present results again confirm the usefulness of
the vane method as an accurate means for direct yield stress
14:55:30
346
DZUY AND BOGER
measurement. Also, by employing the vane method, the dubious

nature of the true yield stress often associated with the laborious
but indirect rheological approach can be avoided.
CONCLUSIONS
By means of two simple analyses, it is shown for a yield stress
material sheared by a four-bladed vane, that the assumption of a
uniform stress distribution along a cylindrical yield surface is
reasonable for yield stress calculation. The yield stress values
calculated using the proposed procedures agree well with the results obtained with the conventional method widely employed by
soil mechanic workers. The latter method which requires measurement with only one vane is recommended for practical purposes. A comparison between the vane results and the yield stress
independently determined supports the previous findings that the
simple vane method is capable of measuring accurately and directly the true yield stress of concentrated suspensions.
The authors are grateful to Alcoa of Australia Ltd. for their support of this work
and for the continuing support from the Australian Research Grants Scheme for
research in non-Newtonian fluid mechanics.
References
1. Q. D. Nguyen and D. V. Boger, J. Rheol., 27(4), 321 (1983).
2. J. J. Vocadlo and M. E. Charles, Can. J. Chern. Eng.. 49, 576 (19711.
3. M. Keentok, Rheol. Acta, 21, 325 (1982).
4. E. R. Lang and C. K. Rha, J. Text. Studies, 12,47 (1981).
5. E. Condolios and E. E. Chapus, Chern. Eng., 93, 131, 145 (1963).
6. T. P. Elson, J. Solomon, and A. W. Nienow, J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech.,
11, 1 (1982).
7. E. B. Bagley and D. D. Christianson. Starch/Starke, 35(3), 81 (19831.
8. J. Solomon, T. P. Elson, and A. W. Nienow, Chern. Eng. Commun., 11, 143
(1981).
9. D. De Kee, G. Turcotte, K. Fildey, and B. Harrison, J. Text. Studies, 10,281
(1980).
10. Q. D. Nguyen, Ph.D. Thesis, Monash University, Australia, 1983.
11. L. Cadling and S. Odenstad, Proc. R. Swed. Geotech. Inst., No.2, 1950.
12. N. E. Wilson, ASTM Special Tech. Publ., No. 361, 377 (1963).
14:55:30
347
13. A. Annan, J. K. Poplin and N. Ahmad, Proc. Conf. In-Situ Measurements of

Soil Properties, North Carolina, 1975, Vol. 1, p. 92.
14. M. Keentok, J. F. Milthorpe and E. O'Donovan, submitted to J. NonNewtonian Fluid Meek. (1984).
15. F. M. Want, P. M. Colombera, Q. D. Nguyen and D. V. Boger, Proc. 8th Int.
Conf Hydraulic Transport of Solids in Pipes, BHRA Fluid. Eng., Johannesburg,
1982, p. 249.
16. N. Casson, in Rheology of Disperse Systems, C. C. Mill, Ed., Pergamon,
London, 1959, p. 84.
17. H. Herschel and R. Bulkley, Proe. Am. Soc. Test. Mater., 26(11), 621 (1926).
18. E. C. Bingham, Fluidity and Plasticity, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1922.
Accepted November 9, 1984
14:55:30

Direct Yield Stress Measurement With The Vane Method

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Titolo originale

Copyright

Formati disponibili

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Direct Yield Stress Measurement With The Vane Method

Caricato da

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Direct Yield Stress Measurement with the Vane Method

Nguyen Q. Dzuy and D. V. Boger

Direct Yield Stress Measurement

The yield stress of concentrated suspensions can be determined

DZUY AND BOGER

Schematic diagram of a four-bladed vane in operation.

agreement with the results obtained by the more conventional

YIELD STRESS MEASUREMENT

Although the assumption of the cylindrical yield surface has been

DZUY AND BOGER

In terms of the shear stresses, it can be shown that

YIELD STRESS MEASUREMENT

where m is a constant describing the radial distribution function

To determine both Ty and m simultaneously from experimental

Thus, if this method is valid, a plot of 2T mlTrD3 versus HID for

DZUY AND BOGER

Wall shear rate (sec")

of 57.8% to 68.2% on weight basis. Rheological properties of the

YIELD STRESS MEASUREMENT

Fig. 3. Comparison of the yield stress values determined using different

DZUY AND BOGER

Angle of rotation, 0 (deg.)

Fig. 4. Typical vane test curves (vane dimensions: D

26.15 mm, HID

the slope of the linear response. In the second region, an increase

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

YIELD STRESS MEASUREMENT

Plots of 2Tml-rrD3 versus HID to test Equation (5).

DZUY AND BOGER

Plots of T m versus H to test Eq. (6) (vane diameter

YIELD STRESS MEASUREMENT

the end shear stress is avoided in the analysis. The procedure

DZUY AND BOGER

measurement. Also, by employing the vane method, the dubious

YIELD STRESS MEASUREMENT

13. A. Annan, J. K. Poplin and N. Ahmad, Proc. Conf. In-Situ Measurements of

Accepted November 9, 1984

Potrebbero piacerti anche