Deformation behaviour of agglomerates under tensile stress

Abstract A new instrument has been developed in which the stress—strain behaviour of agglomerates can be measured in uniaxial tension. The instrument permits tension to be measured under predetermined stresses, and further enables the tensile stress—strain behaviour to be determined in the agglomerate in the unstable region. Agglomerates with different bonding mechanisms were studied. In the case where agglomerates are held together by liquid bridges, a model has been developed which permits the stress—strain behaviour to be predicted. This is confirmed by experiments. For agglomerates with a high degree of liquid saturation, the tensile stress—strain behaviour can be predicted from the capillary pressure relation. The tensile stress—strain curves of dry agglomerates and of agglomerates with solid bridges between particles are shown and compared. From the different stress—strain characteristics, the physical nature of the bonds can be elucidated.