This thesis investigates the effects of differing diameters, removal of antistatic forces, and varying moisture content on the shear stress properties of granular glass beads through use of a Freeman FT4 Powder Rheometer. A yield locus results from plotting the experimental shear stress values (kPa) vs. the applied normal stress value (kPa). From these yield loci, Mohr’s Circles are constructed to quantitatively describe flowability of tested materials in terms of a flow function parameter.

By testing 120-180 µm, 120-350 µm, 250-350 µm, and 430-600 µm dry glass bead ranges, an increase in diameter size is seen to result in both higher shear stress values and an increasing slope of plotted shear stress vs. applied normal stress. From constructed Mohr’s Circles, it is observed that flow function is quite high amongst tested dry materials, all yielding values above 20. A high flow function value (>10) is indicative of a good flow.1 Flow function was observed to increase with increasing diameter size until a slight drop was observed at the 430-600 µm range, possibly due to material quality or being near the size limitation of testing within the FT4, where materials must be less than 1000 µm in diameter.However, no trend could be observed in flowability as diameter size was increased.

Through the use of an antistatic solution, the effect of electrostatic forces generated by colliding particles was tested. No significant effect on the shear stress properties was observed.

Wet material testing occurred with the 120-180 µm glass bead range using a deionized water content of 0%, 1%, 5%, 15%, and 20% by mass. The results of such testing yielded an increase in shear stress values at applied normal stress values as moisture content is increased, as well as a decrease in the resulting flow function parameter. However, this trend changed as 20% moisture content was achieved; the wet material became a consistent paste, and a large drop in shear stress values occurred along with an increase in flowability.