Ignimbrite flow units commonly show reverse grading of large pumice clasts and normal grading of large lithic clasts. Ignimbrites show coarse-tail grading, in which particles beneath a critical diameter, ranging from 64 to 2 mm, are ungraded. Above this size the larger the clast diameter the more pronounced the segregation. The grading is consistent with the theoretical settling rates of particles in a dispersion with a high particle concentration. Ignimbrite flow units show a reversely graded, fine grained basal layer which is attributed to the action of boundary forces during flow. Ignimbrites are commonly associated with cross-stratified pyroclastic surge deposits and fine ash fall deposits formed in the same eruption. The fine ash fall deposit is depleted in crystals and is thought to be the deposit of the fine turbulent cloud observed making up the upper parts of nuees ardentes.



Pyroclastic flows are postulated to be dense, poorly expanded partly fluidized debris flows. Only its fine grained components can be fluidized by gas. Pyroclastic flows are believed to behave as a dispersion of larger clasts in a medium of fluidized fines, which acts as a lubricant similar to water in mud-flows. Poor sorting in ignimbrites is attributed to high particle concentrations not turbulence. Many pyroclastic flows may be laminar in their movement with apparent viscosities, deduced from the lateral grading of large lithic clasts, in the range 101−103 poise.

Grain size variations in ignimbrites and implications for the transport of pyroclastic flows

During the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat (1995–99), and several other dome eruptions, shallow seismicity, short-lived explosive eruptions and ground deformation patterns indicating large overpressures (of several megapascals) in the uppermost few hundred metres of the volcanic conduit have been observed. These phenomena can be explained by the nonlinear effects of crystallization and gas loss by permeable flow, which are here incorporated into a numerical model of conduit flow and lava dome extrusion. Crystallization can introduce strong feedback mechanisms which greatly amplify the effect on extrusion rates of small changes of chamber pressure, conduit dimensions or magma viscosity. When timescales for magma ascent are comparable to timescales for crystallization, there can be multiple steady solutions for fixed conditions. Such nonlinear dynamics can cause large changes in dome extrusion rate and pulsatory patterns of dome growth.

Nonlinear dynamics of lava dome extrusion

Binder Jet printing is an additive manufacturing technique that dispenses liquid binding agent on powder to form a two-dimensional pattern on a layer. The layers are stacked to build a physical article. Binder Jetting (BJ) can be adapted to almost any powder with high production rates and the BJ process utilizes a broad range of technologies including printing tehniques, powder deposition, dynamic binder/powder interaction, and post-processing methods. A wide variety of materials including polymers, metals, and ceramics have been processed successfully with Binder Jet. However, developing printing and post-processing methods that maximize part performance is a remaining challenge. This article presents a broad review of technologies and approaches that have been applied in Binder Jet printing and points towards opportunities for future advancement.

Binder jetting: A review of process, materials, and methods

Binder jet 3D printing—Process parameters, materials, properties, modeling, and challenges

Aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride with different sizes were used alone or in combination to prepare thermally conductive polymer composites. The composites were categorized into two systems, one including composites filled with large-sized aluminum nitride and small-sized aluminum oxide particles, and the other including composites filled with large-sized aluminum oxide and small-sized aluminum nitride. The use of these hybrid fillers was found to be effective for increasing the thermal conductivity of the composite, which was probably due to the enhanced connectivity offered by the structuring filler. At a total filler content of 58.4 vol.%, the maximum values of both thermal conductivities in the two systems were 3.402 W/mK and 2.842 W/mK, respectively, when the volume ratio of large particles to small particles was 7:3. This result was represented when the composite was filled with the maximum packing density and the minimum surface area at the same volume content. As such, the proposed thermal model predicted thermal conductivity in good agreement with experimental values.

Thermal conductivity of epoxy composites with a binary-particle system of aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride fillers

The packing density of a multi-particle system is found to increase if the particle size distribution is extended. Results are reported for Gaussian and log-normal size distributions using dense random packing of two sands with particle sizes of front <0.07 to 8.0 mm.

Packing density is shown to be a function only of size distribution represented by a dimensionless standard deviation, and of particle shape. It is independent of particle size.

Packing densities of binary mixtures of continuously distributed systems are found to depend upon the composition of the mixture, the mean-size ratio of the components of the binary, and upon the packing density of the individual components. Maxima occur at compositions of 55 to 75% larger component, and increasing mean-size ratios result in greater packing densities.

The “increase in packing density” factor is a useful function for comparing, and setting limits to, packing densities of binary mixtures.

The results should allow improved prediction and control of packing densities of many commonly encountered particle systems.

C. Moreland

Papers

The effect of particle size distribution on packing density