Storage of Bulk Solids

Class on16-08-2021

       Dr. Swambabu Varanasi

Book : Powders and Bulk solids (Behavior, characterization, Storage and flow) by Schulze
 Forces in Bulk Solids
Force, F
Force, F Normal Force, FN
Area, A Shear Force, FN
Normal Stress (σ = FN/A)
Shear stress (τ)

• Shear Stress emerges due to

frictional effects.
• It is dependent on the friction
between the bulk  solid and the
plane surface.
• Rough surface will have high
transferable shear stress
Stresses in Bulk Solids
•  In Vertical direction, positive normal stress (σv)
also known as compressive stress.
• Horizontal stress (σh) acts due to σv

• Lateral stress ratio: K = λ =

K values typically varies from 0.3 to 0.6.
Elastic and Plastic deformation
• Elastic deformation occurs when a load (e.g. normal stress) is applied and
the deformation disappears completely after the load is removed.
• Plastic deformation occurs when the stress is sufficient to permanently
deform the material, whereby the stress-strain relationship is not linear.

Elastic Plastic Compaction

Uniaxial Compression Test

• σC is compressive strength or cohesive strength or unconfined yield

strength.
• At failure consolidated bulk specimen starts to flow
Adhesive forces
• The flowability of a fine-grained bulk solid depends largely on the adhesive
forces between individual particles.
• Ex: for agglomeration processes, for powder coating, for blackboard chalk,
or for the application of cosmetic powders.
• With fine-grained, dry bulk solids, major adhesive forces are 
• van der Waals interactions
• Electrostatic forces (example: conductors and insulators)
With moist bulk solids
• Liquid bridge between particles (capillary pressure)
Adhesive forces
• Adhesive forces, FH, between a
spherical particle (diameter x =
10 µm) and a wall as a function
of the distance, a (mm)
• 1 – liquid bridge
• 2 - Electrostatic force for a
conductor
• 3 – Insulator
• 4 – van der Walls forces
Production of Tablets and Briquettes
• If particles are pressed against each other by external forces, the
compressive force acting between the particles increases.

• As a result large stresses prevail (locally) at the particles' contact

points.

• This leads to plastic deformation.

Lotus effect
Self Cleaning
Effect of consolidation stress on σC

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Effect of time
Flowability
Importance of flowability in silo design
σC σ1

h
h
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h
σ1 , σC 1 2 3 4 ffC
Time consolidation or caking
• Some bulk solids continue to gain strength if stored at rest under
compressive stress for a long time period.
• Possible mechanisms are:
• Visco-plastic or plastic deformation at particle contacts
• Solid bridges due to solid crystallizing when drying moist bulk solids
• Solid bridges from the particle material itself
• Bridges due to sintering during storage of the bulk solid at temperatures not much
lower than the melting temperature.
• Chemical processes (chemical reactions at particle contacts).
• Biological processes (e.g., due to fungal growth on biologically active ingredients)
• Influence of adhesive forces on flow behaviour increases with decreasing
particle size. Hence, fine bulk solids show moderate or poor flow behaviour.