Mixing of a wet granular medium: Effect of the particle size, the liquid and the granular compacity on the intensity consumption

Abstract The mixing of a wetted insoluble granular medium was experimentally investigated focusing on the variation of the specific intensity consumption of mixing with addition of liquid in the granular bulk. Preliminary results showed the influence of the particle average diameter of glass beads and calcites (CaCO 3 ), on the intensity consumption which decreased with the increase of the particles size (for the capillary and funicular states). However, an exception was observed at the level of the funicular state of the calcite, for which there was no particle size influence on the intensity consumption (for particles sizes inferior to 150 μm). The effect of an inhomogeneous liquid distribution was not clearly demonstrated. However, the funicular intensity consumption was linked with the compacity of the medium. By stopping the liquid flow at the end of the funicular state, and by continuing the mixing of a calcite, the funicular state intensity consumption and the measured granular compacities were increased. Moreover, this compacity measured during the funicular state, decreased with the particle size.