Sticking together: Is unity strength?

The hydrodynamics of granular flows can be influenced significantly by interparticle forces. Those forces arise from a variety of interactions and factors, such as van der Waals interactions, electrostatics, and presence of liquid. Small amount of liquid can be purposely added or accidentally be present in a number of processes involving solid particles. This paper presents an account of cohesive effects due to the presence of liquid and the rheology of slightly wet particles is studied by means of a commercial rheometer (Freeman FT4 Powder Rheometer). Although an account of the various flow regimes, that can develop in granular materials, is given, specific attention is paid to the transition from the quasi-static regime to intermediate regime (i.e., the regime which develops between the quasi-static regime and the rapid flow regime). Preliminary results show features that can help shed light on the bulk properties of wet granular materials.