The Benefits of Multivariate Analysis over Shear Cell Analysis
Shear Cell testing is a well-established technique for measuring the incipient flow properties of a powder under consolidation, an important property with a strong correlation to powder behaviour in a hopper. However, the technique is often used beyond its original remit in an attempt to understand dynamic, lower-stress unit operations (such as blending, feeding, conveyance, milling and fluidisation) as well as static regimes such as storage. In these circumstances, shear cell test results can be inconclusive, and may not readily differentiate between samples that perform differently in the process.