Angle

Of
Repose
Angle of Repose
Angle of Repose is the
maximum slope angle of non-
cohesive (i.e. free-fowing)
granular material.
It is the angle between a
horizontal plane an the cone
slope of such material.
!ul" cargoes can be
categorize for trimming
purposes as #cohesive$ or
#non-cohesive$.
%ohesive bul" cargoes& all
amp materials an some r'
ones possess cohesion. (or
cohesive cargoes& the
cargoes shoul be trimme
reasonabl' level to the
bounaries of the cargo
space.
%argo space shoul be )lle
as full as practicable without
resulting in an' excessive
mass of the material on the
bottom structure or tween-
ec".
*he angle of repose is a
characteristic of non-cohesive
bul" cargoes& which is inicative
of cargo stabilit'& an the
purpose of which is to minimize
the ris" of bul" material
shifting+ the cargo shoul be
trimme reasonabl' level to the
bounaries of the cargo space.
Application
*he angle of repose is
sometimes use in the esign
of e,uipment for the
processing of particulate solis.
(or example& it ma' be use to
esign an appropriate hopper
or silo to store the material& or
to size a conve'or belt for
transporting the material.
It can also be use in etermining
whether or not a slope (of a
stoc"pile& or uncompacte gravel
ban"& for example) will li"el'
collapse+ the talus slope is
erive from angle of repose an
represents the steepest slope a
pile of granular material will ta"e.
*his angle of repose is also
crucial in correctl' calculating
stabilit' in vessels.
-easurement
1 Pour the dry sand into a pile on a level
surface allowing it to build a pile from
the top. This will result in a pile with a
relatively circular base, making
measurement easier.
2 Using the ruler and a tape measure,
measure the height (h of the pile of sand
from the peak to the ground. !tand the
ruler ne"t to the pile so it can be read
easily.
#"tend the tape measure carefully to the
top of the pile without disturbing the pile
and allow the other end of the tape
measure to intersect the ruler. $hile
keeping the tape measure level, observe
the intersection of the tape measure with
the ruler. $rite the value on the paper.
(#"ample% h & 12 inches.
' Using the tape measure, measure the
hori(ontal distance (d from the middle of
the pile to the edge. Place the tape measure
on the ground beside the pile. )ine up one
end with one side of the pile and e"tend the
tape measure to the other end of the pile.
$rite the value on the paper and divide by
2. This will give you the distance from the
center of the pile to the edge. (#"ample%
Total distance on tape measure from one
end of the pile to the other & '* inches.
+ivide by 2 to get 1, inches. d & 1, inches
- The e.uation for calculating the angle of
repose is% tan/1(2h0d. Using your
scientific calculator, multiply height (1h2
calculated in !tep 2 by 2 and divide this
value by the distance (1d2 calculated in
!tep '. Then, hit the inverse tan key (or
tan/1 and the answer 3ust calculated.
This will give you the angle of repose, 4.
(actors A.ecting Angle
of Repose
The individual material will afect
the angle of repose, a refection
of the diferent coefcients of
friction between diferent
substances. The size of the
particles is a factor. Other factors
being equal, ne grained
material will form a shallower
pile, with a smaller angle of
repose than coarser grains.
!oisture afects the angle
of repose, as an"one who
has ever built a sand castle
can conrm. !oist sand
has a much higher angle of
repose than dr" sand. And
the method b" which the
angle of repose is
measured can also afect
the measurement.
Angle of
Repose
!ethods in
determining the
*ilting !ox
-etho
This method is appropriate
for ne#grained, non#
cohesive materials, with
individual particle size less
than $% mm.
The material is placed within a
bo& with a transparent side to
observe the granular test
material. 't should initiall" be
level and parallel to the base of
the bo&.
The bo& is slowl" tilted at a rate
of appro&imatel" (
degrees)second. Tilting is stopped
when the material begins to slide
in bul*, and the angle of the tilt is
measured.
(ixe (unnel
-etho
The material is poured through a
funnel to form a cone. The tip of
the funnel should be held close to
the growing cone and slowl"
raised as the pile grows, to
minimize the impact of falling
particles.
+top pouring the material
when the pile reaches a
predetermined height or the
base a predetermined width.
,ather than attempt to
measure the angle of the
resulting cone directl", divide
the height b" half the width of
the base of the cone.
The inverse tangent of this
ratio is the angle of repose.
Revolving
%'liner -etho
The material is placed within a
c"linder with at least one
transparent face. The c"linder
is rotated at a &ed speed and
the observer watches the
material moving within the
rotating c"linder.
The efect is similar to
watching clothes tumble over
one another in a slowl"
rotating clothes dr"er. The
granular material will assume
a certain angle as it fows
within the rotating c"linder.
This method is recommended
for obtaining the d"namic
angle of repose, and ma" var"
from the static angle of
repose measured b" other
methods. -hen describing the
angle of repose for a
substance, alwa"s specif" the
method used.
/hipboar *est
-etho
'n the absence of tilting bo&
apparatus, an alternative
procedure in determining the
appro&imate angle of repose is
that the quantit" of the material
to be tested is poured ver"
carefull" out of a fas* onto a
sheet of rough te&tured paper, in
such a wa" that a s"mmetrical
cone is formed.
.ull details can be
found on /0 0ode
( Code of Safe
Practice for Solid
Bulk Cargoes).
Angle of Repose of various
materials
-aterial
(conition)
Angle of Repose
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