The Experimental Stress – Strain Rate Relationship of Granular Materials [Translated]†

Abstract

The flow of granular materials is important in the field of material handling. However, there are many unknown factors associated with the analysis of these flows. Constitutive relations (stress and strain rate relations) are needed to describe the flow dynamics of granular materials. We experimentally obtained the constitutive relations of granular materials by using a chute-type shear apparatus. The chute in which the granular material is contained and covered by a top board, can be moved on straight rails, while the top board is loaded vertically and kept immobile. The shear stresses, normal stresses and strain rates measured by using the chute-type shear apparatus give the constitutive relations of the granular materials. The experimental results describe well the flow characteristics (e.g. the stress ratio of shear to normal stress is proportional to the strain rate, etc.) under the condition in which the friction forces between granular materials dominate.† This report was originally printed in J. Soc. Powder Technology, Japan. 28(10), 632-637 (1991) in Japanese, before being translated into English by KONA Editorial Committee with the permission of the editorial committee of the Soc. Powder Technology, Japan.