Fundamentals of cohesive powder consolidation and flow

The fundamentals of cohesive powder consolidation and flow behaviour are explained to combine reasonably particle and continuum mechanics. The influence of elastic-plastic repulsion and, consequently, stressing pre-history dependent adhesion is demonstrated by the new model stiff particles with soft contacts and the contact force equilibrium. With this as the physical basis, incipient powder consolidation, yield and cohesive steady-state flow are explained. These models are used to evaluate shear cell test results as constitutive functions for computer aided apparatus design for reliable flow.