Percolation segregation for broad particle size distribution

Most of the previous researchers have studied size segregation using binary mixtures. In this research, percolation segregation was studied for multi-size powder mixtures to build a road map for continuous particle size distributions. For quantifying percolation response of fines, the primary segregation shear cell (PSSC-II) was used. The absolute size ranges of coarse particles used in this experiment were 710-850 (F1) and 1000-1200 (F2) microns. Percolation of fines in a narrow size distribution 120-180 microns (f) and d₅₀ of 150 microns was studied. Experiments with single layers prepared using F1 or F2,60 mm in depth, were carried out to study percolation of fines f fed from a funnel at the top center. In addition, two layers (each 30 mm in depth) of absolute size coarse particles were prepared by placing one layer over the other, i.e., F1 (bottom) and F2 (top). Percolation of fines f through these two layers F1 +F2 was studied also. The segregation results of binary, f-F1 and f-F2, and tertiary, f-(F1+F2), mixtures are compared and discussed, which includes segregation magnitude and intensity differences.