Apparent internal friction factors of powders have been evaluated under various test conditions by a direct shear tester providing the following four sets of shearing stress-normal stress diagram, and compared with each others; (i) maximum shearing stress (τ
x, max)—applied normal stress (σ
z, w), (ii) steady shearing stress (τ
x, s)—σ
z, w, (iii) τ
x, max—actual normal stress (σ
z, m—measured directly by three pressure sensors in the vicinity of the shearing plane and averaged), and (iv) τ
x, s—σ
z, m diagrams. Among these diagrams, the τ
x, s—σ
z, m relation gives the internal friction factor which is fairly independent of the test conditions and can be arranged in the order of Carr's flowability index for respective powders.
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