Avalanching flow of cohesive powders

The flow dynamics of cohesive powders is investigated in rotating cylinders with an L:R ratio of 3:1 using experiments and DEM simulations, Flow onset and steady-state behavior are compared for free-flowing (cohesionless) dry glass beads, wet glass beads, and dry cohesive powders (lactose, microcrystalline cellulose). The avalanching dynamics of powders is substantially different from those observed for free-flowing or wet-cohesive glass beads. Dry cohesive powders exhibit history-dependent flow dynamics, significant dilation, aperiodic avalanche frequencies, and variable avalanche size. These behaviors also provide a route for effective characterization of cohesive forces under dilated conditions characteristic of unconfined flows. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.