TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG HARBURG INSTITUTE

OF
SOLIDS PROCESS ENGINEERING AND PARTICLE TECHNOLOGY

Practical Exercise in
Particle Technology
Measurement of flow properties of bulk solids
by using the JENIKE shear tester
Advisor:

M.Sc. Sergii Kozhar

Group Number:

Group I

Group Members:

Nihan Dulger
Ashish Rathore
Alberto Bueno Morales
Murat Akgn

Date of experiment: 09.12.2014

Version: 1

Introduction
Bulk properties are really important in solid handling, they can help us determine the flow
properties of different materials and with this knowledge it is possible design equipment for solid
conveying and processing. One of the biggest industry problems respecting solid handling is the
powder or granulates storage in silos. In general two problems can be identify: bridging and ratholing.
Bridging occurs due to a poor design in the bottom opening of the silo causing an arch to form
across the mouth of the opening, blocking the powder flow out of the container. In the other hand,
rat-holing is caused when the silo is built with an incorrect cone angle, this leads to a formation of a
central channel through the bulk mass.
For determining the cone angle and opening of the silo it is required to determine the cohesion and
friction of the material and also the friction between the material and the wall of the silo, for
obtaining this parameters it is possible to use the Jenike shear test, which measures the inner
friction of the material and the strength of the bulk materials which previous conditions of
consolidation are well known.

Theory
The flow of a bulk product can be divided in two types:
1. Mass flow: The total volume of a container is in motion. With this type of flow it is possible
to achieve a uniform and steady state flow. In general it can be said that the first particle
that goes into the bin is the first one to leave it.
2. Funnel flow: The bulk material only flows through the center of the container, this effect
produces dead zones in the radial volume of the silo. In general it can be said that the first
particle going in is the last one the leave the container.
Mass flow is desirable when handling bulk materials and for designing and sizing the equipment for
achieving this type of flow is necessary to know the angle of friction on the strength of the bulk
solids. This friction is caused by the adhesive interactions between the particles-particles and
particles-wall. This parameter is largely influenced by the quantity of previous consolidation.
Using the Jenike shear test it is possible to build a yield locus graph, which describes the static
strength of the material, meaning that for designing a silo it is necessary to use a greater force than
the static strength for the material start flowing. The yield locus graphic is built by plotting shear
stress vs. normal stress, equations 1 and 2 respectively.

F
gM
= N =
A
A
=

F S 0,624F
=
A
A

eq. 1

eq. 2

Where:
: Normal stress [N/m2]
: Shear stress [N/m2]
FN: Normal force [N]
Fs: Shear Force [N]
A: Shear area [m2]
F: Percentile shear force, Jenike tester [%]

The shear force of equation 2 describes the failure point at different normal forces. In that way the
yield locus graph is composed by individual yields describing the necessary normal force that must
be applied in order for the material to start flowing. The yield locus is described by a linear
equation, equation 3. Where the slope describes the kinetic friction and the intersection describes
the shear cohesion of the material.

 =tan ( i ) + c

Where:
i: Angle of kinematic friction []
c : Shear cohesion [N/m2]

eq. 3

For determining the compression strength (c), consolidation stress (1) and the effective internal
friction (e) this consolidation stresses are described by the end Mohr circle and small Mohr circle,
figure 1.
For determining the end Mohr circle midpoint and radius the following equations are used:

2
2
2
2
2
M =[ Cr( 1+ ) + c ] [ Cr( 1+ ) + c ] [ Cr + Cr ] ( 1+ ) c

R=

+
M

1+ 2

Where:
M: End Mohr circle midpoint [N/m2]
R: End Mohr circle radius [N/m2]
Cr: Critical normal stress [N/m2]

eq. 4

eq. 5

Cr : Critical shear stress [N/m2]

: tani

With the information gathered from the Mohr's circles the powder flowability ( ff c ) can be
determined with equation 6.

ff c =

1
c

eq. 6

The classification of the flowability of a certain powder can be asses comparing the result of
equation 6 with table 1.
Table 1: Flowability assessments.
Flow Function

Evaluation

100-10

Free flowing

10-4

Easy flowing

4-2

Cohesive

2-1

Very cohesive

<1

Nonflowing

For the determination of the wall yield locus the preconsolidation of the material is not important
and the yield locus can be graph using equations 1 and 2, a linear function is obtained and is
represented in equation 7.

=tan ( w ) +C w

eq. 7

Where:
w: Angle of wall friction []
Cw: Adhesion of material in the wall [N/m2]

Experimental Procedure
Powder Yield Locus.

First Consolidation (Filling)

Fill the apparatus incluiding the filling ring
with the sample.
Preloading of the twisting plate with 6 kg.
The twisting lever is twisted 10 times
The filling ring was removed and the
excees material is stripped away so its
leveled with the shear ring.

Second Consolidation

The shear lid is placed over the sample.

The suspender is pre-loaded with 2 kg.
The apparatus is started recording the
shear force vs. time.
The apparatus is stopped when the shear
becomes constant.

This procedure must be

repeated for each individual yield
locus of the final yield locus
graph.

Determination of the individual

yield locus

The suspender is loaded with a determined

load.
The apparatus is started and is stopped
after the shear force reaches a maximum.

Determination of density

The whole cell with the tested sample is

weighted.

Wall Yield Locus

First Consolidation (Filling)

Fill the apparatus incluiding the filling ring
with the sample.
Preloading of the twisting plate with 6 kg.
The twisting lever is twisted 10 times
The filling ring was removed and the
excees material is stripped away so its
leveled with the shear
ring.
Determination
of the
individual

yield locus

The suspender is loaded with the maximum

load.
The apparatus is started.
Every time the shear force reaches a
constant value, the load of the suspender is
reduced by a predetermined value..

Determination of density

The whole cell with the tested sample is

weighted.

For the determination of the wall

yield locus the base of the
apparatus is replaced by a base
that is made out of the same
material as the silo.

Results and Analysis

Yield Locus
The results obtained from the Jenike shear tester are shown in table 2. This table was completed
using the equations 1 and 2. The corrected force is necessary because this test is really sensitive
to changes in the preconsolidation shear force, the correction is made using the equation 8. The
experimental results obtained by the Jenike shear rate test are shown in figure 4 located in the
appendix.

F s ,Cr ,i=

Where:

F S ,i F s ,Cr

F s ,Cr ,i : Individual critical force [N]

F S ,i : Individual shear force [N]
F s ,Cr : Average of individual critical forces [N]

eq. 8

F s ,Cr ,i

Table 2: Results from the Jenike shear tester.

No.

FS,Cr,I [N]

Load Shear
Test [kg]

FS,i [N]

FS,I,corr [N]

19,97

14,352

19,34

0,5

3
4

18,10
18,10

[N/m2]

[N/m ]

Mtot [kg]

13,57

1914,10

2907,42

0,9919

11,232

10,96

1546,31

2215,40

0,9928

7,488

7,81

1101,97

1523,39

0,9846

-0,75558

2,496

2,60

367,32

477,64

0,9874

For calculating the stresses an area of 7,09 X10-3 m2 was used, this area corresponds to the
contact area of the material between the lower ring and the shear ring. For calculating the normal
force applied to the sample of the lower ring by the sample in the shear ring a volume of 1,13 X10-4
m3 is multiplied by the average bulk density.
Since the density of the bulk material has a great effect on the yield locus it is necessary to discard
those points where the deviation from the average is greater or lesser than the 20% of the average
bulk density, equation 9. The tests with different normal loads must be carried out with constant
bulk density

M M cell
b= tot
V cell

eq. 9

Where:
b : Bulk density [kg/m3]
M cell : Weight of empty cell; 0,69111 kg
V cell : Volume of cell; 2,02 X10-4 m3

The individual bulk densities and the points used for plotting the yield locus are shown in table 3. It
is important to point out that the influence of the bulk density on the yield locus is direct, meaning
that if the bulk density increases the yield locus increases as well. It is really important to take into
consideration this density effect when designing storage silos for powders or granulates because
the bulk density of some stored bulk solids increases with time.
In this case the four different tested points are in between the interval of 20% of the average bulk
density. The yield locus with this 4 points is shown in figure 2. The yield locus experimental data fits
properly to equation 3 with a R2=0,9963. The parameters that where determined using figure 2 are
shown in table 4.The yield locus represents the maximum shear stress the sample can support
under a certain normal stress.
Table 3: Bulk densities for individual yield locus points.

No.
1
2
3
4
Average,
b :

b
[kg/m3]
1492,01
1496,48
1455,80
1469,69
1478,50

In range?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
29,57

It is possible to determine the consolidation stress drawing a steady state Mohr circle which
represents the stresses in the sample at the end of the consolidation procedure, stresses at steady
flow. The unconfined yield strength can be determined drawing the unconfined Mohr circle, which
represents the stress that is required to deform the material being tested when it is not confined in
a container.
The unconfined yield strength can be thought as the stressed required to fail a consolidated mas of
material so it can start flowing, it is desirable to have a bulk solid with low unconfined yield strength
to promote mass flow and avoid flow problems. The unconfined yield strength is a function of the
major consolidation stress meaning that as the major consolidation stress increases the
unconfined yield strength increases.
For calculating the stationary Mohr midpoint and radius the following critical stresses are used:
2663,0
9
4291,4
5

Critical Shear Stress [cr]

Critical Normal Stress [cr]
This critical stresses were calculated from
equations 1 and 2.

F s ,Cr

N/m2
N/m2

and a mass in the suspender of 2 kg using

3000.00
2500.00
2000.00

E
Shear Stress [N/m2]

1500.00
1000.00
500.00

e
c

0.00
-1000.00

1000.00

3000.00

5000.00

7000.00
1

Normal Stress [N/m2]

Figure 2: Yield locus

Point E characterizes the steady-state flow, which is the flow with no change in stresses and bulk
density. The effective internal friction is a measure of the inner friction at steady state flow.
The coordinates of point E were determined using equation 10 and 11.

x E = M sin i R

eq. 10

y E =x E + c

eq. 11

The effective internal friction is calculated with equation 12.

e =tan 1

yE
XE

eq. 12

Table 4: Results for the yield locus.

Kinematic Friction [i]
Shear Cohesion [c]
Compression Strength[c]
Consolidation Stress [1]
Stationary Mohr Midpoint [M]
Stationary Mohr Radius [R]
Effective Internal Friction [e]
Powder Flowability [ ff c

32,66
91,03
332,90
7675,81
4935,86
2739,95
33,71
23,06

N/m2
N/m2
N/m2
N/m2
N/m2

With the above results it is possible to determine the flowability of the material using equation 6,
which gives a result of 23,06 (Table 4). Comparing this result with the values in table 1 this powder
can be described as a free-flowing material. It is important to remember that it can only be
described as a free-flowing material at this level of previous consolidation. For example, since the
value of powder flowability is near the frontier of free-flowing and cohesive behavior, if the
preconsolidation stress increases (bulk density increases) the powder flow behavior would be
characterized as a cohesive.

Wall Yield Locus

The wall yield locus does not depends on the porosity or the history of consolidation of the
material. This is because during the test there is no flow of the material, the sliding stress between
the material and the wall is what is measured. The results are shown in table 5, it is not necessary
to correct the force due to the later explanation. The experimental results obtained by the Jenike
shear rate test are shown in figure 5 located in the appendix.
Table 5: Wall yield locus results.
No

Load Shear
Test [kg]

FS,i [N]

1
2
3
4
5
6

3,50
3,00
2,50
2,00
1,00
0,00

13,42
12,17
10,92
9,67
6,24
2,81

[N/m2]

1892,78
1716,70
1540,63
1364,56
880,36
396,16

[N/m ]

Mtot [kg]

6371,01
5678,99
4986,98
4294,96
2910,93
1526,90

0,66

b
[kg/m3]
1500,88

In figure 3 the wall yield locus is plotted and it fits properly to equation 7 with a R2=0,9932. The
function does not crosses through the origin as expected this is due the adhesive forces between
the wall and the material. One characteristic of powders with adhesion is that bulk solids with an
adhesion coefficient can adhere at vertical walls due to large adhesive forces.

The wall yield locus as the yield locus describes the wall shear stress necessary to move a bulk
solid continuously across a wall surface under a certain wall normal stress. All the measurements
for the wall yield locus were obtained at steady-state so it describes the kinematic friction between
the bulk solid and the wall. This value is easily modified by the finish of the surface.
As the wall friction angle increases the actual friction between the bulk solid and the wall increases
rising mass flow problems in the hopper, silo etc. To reduce the wall friction angle it is possible to
treat the surface of the container either by polishing or lining.

2500.00

2000.00

1500.00

Shear Stress [N/m2]

1000.00

500.00

0.00
0.00

2000.00 4000.00 6000.00 8000.00

Normal Stress [N/m2]

Figure 3: Wall yield locus

The stress and bulk density in table 5 were calculated with the parameters in table 6, in this same
table the coefficients for equation 7 are given.
Table 6: Wall yield locus test parameters and results.
Material
Mass Plexiglas
Volume
Wall Friction [w]
Adhesion [Cw]

Plexiglas
1,83 X10-1 kg
1,13 X10-4 m3
16.88

0,00
N/m2

For silo design not just the wall friction angle is important but also the mechanical properties of the
wall material. Bulk solids sliding across a surface create wear problems due to abrasion of the wall
material by the flowing powder or bulk material. It is really important to consider this effect when
selecting the appropriate wall material.
The angle of wall friction is the major property for mass flow hopper design, meanwhile the
unconfined yield strength is the decisive property considering arching. It has to be mentioned that
all flow properties depend on the stress level represented by the major consolidation stress.
It is possible to determine the flow parameters of bulk solids using the Jenike shear tester. The
material under test was determined as a free-flowing bulk solid for a certain consolidation state.
For comparing different materials is really important to test them under the same consolidation
conditions. The most important parameters for silo design according to Jenike were determined
and are presented in table 4 and 6. The principal source of error for the yield locus determination is
in the first consolidation step, this error generates different densities from each sample due to the
turning mechanism, sometimes the turns were not fully done causing the material to compact less
or more. It is important to mention that the forces read in figure 4 and 5 were taken as the average
and visually taken, so the values obtained from those figures can be different from person to
person.

References
Schulze, Dietmar. Powders and bulk solids behavior, characterization, storage and flow. Berlin
New York: Springer, 2008.
Brown, C. J., and J Nielsen. Silos : fundamentals of theory, behaviour, and design. London New
York: E & FN Spon, 1998.
Kozhar, S. (2014) Practical Exercise in Particle Technology, Measurement of flow properties of
bulk solids by using the JENIKE shear tester. TUHH

Appendix

Figure 4: Yield locus Jenike shear test results.

Figure 5: Wall yield locus Jenike shear test results, the normal force was reduced from right to left in the graph.