Ansi Cema 550 r2009
Ansi Cema 550 r2009
Ansi Cema 550 r2009
CEMA 550·2003·R2009
( Reaffirmation of ANSI ! CEMA 550·2003
Approved November 14, 2003)
CLASSIFICATION
ANO
OEFINITIONS
OF
BULK
MATERIALS
CEMA ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
In , uranee
t--- II'"'~~"II eoo.....
Compon&nlS
and systems - y0<5
1I ,~
Acco~ 1 '"'~, 1 ~;;:'" 1 1 , . •• ~ 1
I PaSI P,e.ldent.
1-- Cc....."itt_
H """
PubIic RelationI
1--
1 ~Cha l n
I Slati.lics
1-- T Un. Han<ling 6ul<Hancllng ~ H~I
P<I<IomIance TIImIincMogy
""., Section
I Sale!)' SIeer'ng
1-- 1 UniI Handling Sland....cts H sys~ms I
I
L _____ _
SAFETY NOTlCE
The Conveyor Equipment Manufac1urersAssociation has developed Industry Standard Safety Labels
far use on the conveying equipment of ils member campanies.
The purpose of the labels is lo idenlify common and uncommon hazards , conditions, and unsafe
practices which can injure, or cause the death of, the unwary or inaUentive person who is working
at or around conveying equipment.
The labels are available for sale to member companies and non-member companies.
A full description of the labels , their purpose , and guidelines on where to place the labels on typical
equipment, has been published in CEMA's Safety Label Brochure No. 201. The Brochure is available
for purchase by members and non-members of Ihe Associalion. Safely Labels and Safety Label
Placement Guidelines, originally published in the Brochure , are also available free on the CEMA
Web Site at http://www.cemanet.orgICEMA_SafetLPg.htm
PLEASE NOTE : Should any of the safety labels supplied by the equipment manufacturer become
unreadable for any reason, the equipment USER is then responsible for replacement and location
of these safety labels.
Replacement labels and placement guidelines can be obtained by contacting your equipment
supplier or CEMA.
CLASSIFICATION & DEFINITIONS OF BULK MATERIALS
FOREWORD
The CEMA Engincering Conference recognizcs Ihal the basis of all bul k malcrial conveyor enginccri ng
is the precise defin ition and accurate classifi cation of matcrials according lo thei r individual handling
charaCleri stics under a specific combination of conditions of temperature, humid ity, sizes and distribution
oflumps, friability, and so 00, includi ng all factors ¡hal ¡nfluence the seleclion ofproper types and sizes of conveyors,
horizontal, incl incd or verticaL
Thi s exacting lask of catuloging bulk malcrials wns assigned by (he Conference 10 Ihe CEMA Comminee for
Malcrial s Classification & Definition, a task ¡hal was greal1y magnificd by (he increasing flow ofnew materials from
the world's geometricall y expand ing technology in all fi eld s and the alteration of older materials into fo rms with
different handling characteristics .
Th is task can, therefore, never be considered as hav ing been completed. The Com mittee fu ll y realizes Ihat ils
concl usion s at the time of any publi cation represents onl y that part of the work that has been completed to dale.
For that reason, il is the earnesl recommendat ion of Ihe members of the Conveyor Equipment Manufaclurers
Association that compelent cngineering and technological assistance be soughl whenever thcre is Ihe slightest doubt
as lo how any material wi ll behave under specific condilions.
It is desi rable and necessary Ihal materials and condilions be descri bed prec ise ly and com pletely whenever
equi pment manufacturers and consu h ing engineers are caJl ed in 10 makc recommendations.
Tlle updated table has beel/ rel/amed "Comparisol/ of U.S., ISO, al/d Tyler Stal/dard
Sieves". 1I incorporales ISO Sieve desigatiolls as well as tlle curren! U.S. lIIeasuremelll
chullges lO accollllllodate ISO Stal/dard 133. Tltese challges are u/so rej1ected in
changes fa Table 6 "Average Size Systelll frolll Screen Allalysis".
The updated table amalgamates virtually all of the CEMA Material Hal/dlil/g
Characteristics Data thal Ihe Associatioll "as available Ulul has published ill its hvo
olher dOClImellts which deal wil" material handling characteristics; Bel! COllveyors
for Bulk Materials ami CEMA Book 350: ScreIV COl/veyors.
To keep litis dOClIlllellt updated, ulld of lIIaximuJII utility lo tite illdustry, )Ve welcome,
alld are prepared to cOIIsider for illc/lIsiol1 ill fut"re editiolls, Ilew material alld
characterizatiolls submitted to liS from ally IIlembers of the blllk material cOllveyillg
illdllstry.
i
CONTENTS
C HAPTER
l. Physica l Characteristics
A- 1 Abrasiveness 1
A- 2 Anglc ofextcrna l fric tion 3
A-) Angle ofintemal frict ion 4
A-4 Angle ofmaximum inclinalion 5
A-5 A ngle of repose 5
A- 6 Anglc ofslide 7
A-7 Anglc of surcharge 7
A-8 Bulk density -loose 9
A-9 Bulk density - vibrated 11
A - lO Cohesivencss 13
A- II Elevated temperature 14
A-12 Flowabili ly - now fU!letíon 14
A-U Lumps - size and weight 15
A-14 Specific gravity 16
A-15 Moislure conten! 16
A-16 Particle hardness 19
A-17 Screen analysis and particle s ize consist 21
A-18 Sized and unsized matcrial 23
8- 10 Explosiveness 28
8-11 Flammability 29
8- 12 Hannful dust, toxic gas or fumes 29
8 - 13 Hygroscopi 30
8 - 14 Interlock s, mals and agglomerales 30
8- 15 Oi ls or fats present 31
8- 16 Packs under pressure 31
8 - 17 Particle shape 31
8- 18 Stickiness - adhes ion 32
8-19 Conlaminable 33
8-20 Very lighl, fl uffy - may be w indswept 34
m
CHAPTE R
7. Material Tables 44
V APPENDIX
9. Bibliography 67
A . Equipment 73
B. Dcfinitions 73
C. Procedure 75
D. Curve Plotling of Dala 77
CHAPTERI
This chapter is devoled to establishing consisten! terminology for Ihe various properties and characteristics
of bulk materials thal are considered 10 airee! conveyability or design in the proper selection of materials han-
dling equipment. Definition s are given and test procedures are eSlablished where pract icable.
Two general classes are established. The first class is " Physical Characteristics" and ¡neludes those proper-
líes thal can generally be physically tested and numeri cal va\ues detcnnined. These carry an "A" prefíx. The
second cJass is " Hazards Affccti ng Conveyabi lily." Thi s latler group is more d ifficult to test and determi ne
quantitat ive resu lts. They carry a " B" prefi x. Where possible, suggested test procedures are given to determine a
qual itative, generally yes or no, answer. Typical examples of materials having the particular property being
described are given to faci litate a better understand ing ofthe characteristic involved.
If a given material sample is analyzed for all thirty-seven characteristics given in the followin g pages, much
more will be known about the material than generally fo und hereto fo re and the problem of proper eq uipment
selection for Ihe application will be made easier. A classificalion cod ing syslem is estab lished in Chapter 11 and a
suggested format for listing these characteristics is contained in Chapter 111.
1. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
A- I Abrasiveness
Defi nition: Abrasiveness is a combinalion of the physical characteri stics of a malerial lhat enables il 10 abrade
particles from surfaces with whi ch it comes into moving conlact.
Test: It seems from observations thal Ihe fo llowing 4 characterislics are Ihose which would contribute lO the abra-
sive characler of a material.
Size
CEMA Factor
A 1.0
B 1. 1
e 1.2
D 1.3
E 1.3
To determine the relative abrasiveness of a particle, determine the factors from observation of the material.
Multiply the factors together to determine the abrasive index number.
Compare this number to the abrasive index range in the table below to determ ine the CEMA abrasive code
number.
( 1) The follow ing factors were used to determine the abrasive index mnge:
Hardness Density Shape Size
Mildly 1&4 1& 1.6 1&2 1&1.3
Modcrately 16 1.6 2 1.3
Extremely 100 1.6 2 1.3
(2) Assume the hardness of all vegetable and animal products which cannot be measured to be Mohs #1 or less.
(3) The hardness of other matcrials can be found in various handbooks and by using Mohs test.
Rounded - Those pieces Ihal are nearly spherical with no shallJ edges or shallJ poinls.
(river gravel) (8 - 17 C lass D)
2
Subround Subangular Those pieces which approach rounded or angular shapes but with all edges well rounded
4 4
so Ihat Ihere are no sharp edges or sharp points. (river gravel) (B4 17 Classes A, B, C, & E, excepl all sharp
edges & points removed)
Angular- Pieces havi ng various flat sided shapes, all ofwhich produce sharp edges and sharp points.
(crushed stone) (B-1 7 Classes A, B, & C)
Dcfinition
The angle of externa l friction ofa bulk material is Ihe angle in degrees, O', belween the normal stress (horizontal)
axis and the wall yield locus or curve ofa plot showing the relationship ofshearing resistance to normal stress acting
between the bulk material and the surfacc of anolher material on which it slides as found from direct shcar tests.
This is also known as wall friction and should be closely related to the angle of sl ide on the same surface.
The tangent of th is angle is the cocfficient of friction of the bu lk material on the surfacc ofthe materia l tested.
The type, cond ition, and surfa ce finish ofthe material 011 which the test is performed must be included with the
angle and coefficienl lo be specific, Le., new hot roUed 0. 15-0.20 carbon steel pI ate at 80100 MuRMS or type 304
sta inless steel wi lh 28 surface at 15-25 MuRMS.
Test
The lest is performed on a direct shear conlrolled strain tcster in the manner described in Appendix 10. The plot
ofthe shear stress versus the normal stress is the wall yield locus. The angle is measured between the abscissa and a
straight line through the origin lo the intersection ofthe wall yield locus wi lh the Mohr circ1e for Ihe major consoli-
dation stress al Ihe point ofhigher normal stress as shown in Figure l.
Consol~dation Circle--- \
Shear
Str ess
r &
(Ji
Normal Stres s ir
Figure 1
3
CHAPTER TI
TABlE 3
3. MATERIAL CLASS IFICATIQ N CQDE C IIART
DEFINITION
eODE
MAJOR CLASS MATERIALCHARACTERISTICS INC L UDED &TEST
DESIGNATlON
REfERENCE
Dcnsity Bulk Dcnsity, Loose A-8 Actual Lbs/eu Ft
Flowabil ity Average Flowability - Flow Function > 2 Bul <4 A-12 3
Sluggish - Flow FUllctioll < 2 4
Maximum Anglc
of lnclination Convcyor A-4
35
4. MATERIAL CLASS IFI CATlON COO E OESCR IPTlON
Bulk Density in Ihe loose condition, as defined under A-8 of Chapter 1, is given as the firsl group of the
Classification Codeo Thc actua l dcnsity in pounds per cubic rool lo the ncares! wholc pound is shown; whcrc a
range of va lues is shown, the average ofthe loose densi ty va lues is used.
B. Size Coding System
Since Ihe size ofparticles in a sample of a bu lk material to be handled in a conveying syslem is ane of
the músl importan! characteristics 10 be considered in selecling and applying convey ing and elevat ing
cquipment, size is givcn in the second group of the classification coding systcm. Norma lly the maximum size
ofthe particle or lump determines minimum size of ope nings, bucket sizes, chute width, belt width, screw
diameter, etc . The code class letter is therefore selected on the basis ofthe maximum particle or lump size in
the material. Thi s class then indicates the sample will contain particles as large as the maximum indicated
and might, but not necessarily, contain particle sizes down to zero. The particu lar size consist, or size
breakdown, is only indicated by a complete screen analysis which would be necessary if more infonnation
on the smaller sizes and the dist ribution of sizes is requ ired.
The complete Size Classificat ion and Coding is shown in Table 4 and Figure 9.
For Class A materials, which are the smallest or very fine sizes, it is recommended that the percentages
rctained on at least the No. 40, No. 100, and No. 200 U.S. Standard sicves bc includcd in any request for
handling information since propcr application \ViI I gene rally require morc dctail than just the maximum size.
Whi le the major screen groups are shown as No. 40, 100 and 200, and may be identified as A-w A ,oo ' and
A200, the fo llow ing subgroups may be used in addition to obtain a more complete picture ofthe size distribution:
No. 50, 70, 140, 170 and 270, U.S. Standard Sieves.
36
CHAPTER 111
5. PREFACE TO
MATER IAL TABLE
Thc following malcrial table givcs a list of matcrials togcthcr with thcir loosc dcnsity and code c1assification, Thc charactcr~
¡slies delinealed by Ihe code designations are Ihose thal are comrnonly encountered in average conditions. They are no!
ncccssarily derived from Ihe previously describcd tests, bUI weTe taken from various sources and represen! Ihe conscnsus of
cxpcricnce ofa numbcr ofCEMA membcrcompanies.
Each characteristic may val)' in spccific instances. Proper consideration mus! be given Ihose matcrials whose characteris-
lies val)' undcr conditions ofhandling, moisture conten! utmosphcric humidity, paniclc sizc, agc Of long sloragc. 1I should be
nOled thal 51ighl changcs in moisture conten! may greatly afTeet many ofthe eharaeterist ies; also difTerenees in partiele size
distribution may affeet sorne of these eharaeteristics,
As results were aeeumulated from the teSI proeedures outlined previously in Chapters I and 11 , that information was
submitted to CEMA and eventually tabulated in detail in the form shown on the sample ehart, Table 7, included in this ehapler,
It will be noted Ihat this ehart makes provision for including all ofthe eharacleristics prcviously defined and that slight changes
in one or more oflhe charaeteristics will require separale entries for the same gencraltypc ofmaterial.
As a eonvenienee in using Ihe Materials Table, the Material Classifieation Code Chan, Table 3, from Chapter 11 is repeated
on Ihe next page.
Mlleh of Ihe lla/a in Ihis lab/e ll'O~' l/Iso indru/(ul ill Ihe CEMA Bell BOl/k: "Bell COI/I'e)'ors for Blllk Malerials ", T/¡e ((¡b/e
in 11/(/1 tlol:umenl included A-5: Angle of Repose (Loo,~e) GI/d A-4: (Reeommendell) Al/gil' of Mtuimum 'lIclilla/ioll (Col/l'eyO/)
for seleeled lIIa/eria/s. f¡ al/(I also illcluded some malerül/ cJllI/'lIclerislics 1/01 COI'ered ill I/¡is doclllllelll.
Tile CEMA Sc/'ew CO/weyor Sectioll . il/ developil/g ANSI/CEMA Stamlard 350 "St.,.ew COIII'eyors" used Ihe dala frOIll
,his lIIalerial tab/e blll sliglll/y mOlliJj1lhe cJ/{//'{/eterülics ofsollle mlllerials basel' 01/ IIIeir eXfJCriel/ee ill mOl'illg the prodllcl.
rile)' (/Iso adllet/ eharaeleri:aliol/s for I/ell' materials whieh IIlll'e come il/IO Ilre markelplace 01' \\'hiel, lI'ere prel'iollsl)' l/al
il/cJllded.
As noted aboye ..... Ihi s ehart makes provision for illcluding all ofthe eharacteristics previously defin ed and that slighl
changes in olle or more ofthe charaeterislics will require separate entries for the same genera l type of material." To reso/I'e O/Iy
discrepallc;e~' belweell Ihi~' doclllllel/I. I/¡e Screll' COI/I'C)'or llocl/mel/l. alld Ihe BeI¡ Book. CEMA has e/lOsen lo i/IC:OIpora/e
Ihe modilica/iolls II/(JI Ihe Serew COllveyo/' Sectioll has mude rutile/' Ilrall l/se /l/ulliple el/tries for Ihe same maleria!'
Use!'!; are reminded again "Each eharacteristic may vary in specifie instances. Proper consideration must be given those
material s whose charaetcristies vary under eondit ions o f handling, moisture content atmospheric humidity, panic1e size, age or
long Slorage. lt should be noted that slight ehanges in moisturc contenl may grcatly affeet many o fthe eharacteristics; also
difTerenees in par1icle size distribution may afTeet sorne of these charaeteristies.'· Consu ll with your Bulk Material Conveyor
Manufaclurcr for speei!ic applieations.
Fillal/)'. tire I/Iu/atel! /(lb/e alll(¡lg(l/¡l(Ile~' I'ir{/l(llly (11/ of lile CEAJA Material Halldlillg Ch(//'(lcferistics 0(1/(1 11/(11 Ihe
Associa/ioll /¡m' lll'ai/able amI Iras publishetl. To keep Ilris lloclllllellf llpilaler/. amI of maxillllllll IIlifil)' lo Ihe il/(II,SII); I\'e
lI'eleomt'. (lml art' prepared 10 eOllsiderfor illelllSiol1 illjiullre ediliOlls, lIew maleriol {l/u/ characteri:aliollS submillel/ ro liS
fmm (1/1)' lIIembers of Ihe bll/k lIIateri(l/ cOIll'eyillg il/l/I/SOy.
42
TADLE 3
DEFIN ITION
C OD E
MAJOR CLASS ]\'1ATERIALCHARACTERISTICS lNC L UDED & TEST
DES IGNATlON
R[FER[NCE
Density Bulk Density, Loose A-' Actual LbslCu FI
Maximum Angle
oflnc li nalion Conveyor A-4 #
43
7. Material Tables
Angle 01 Recommended
Material Description Loose Bulk Density GEMA Repose Angle 01 Max.
LblCu Ft Material Gode (Loose) Inclination
(Conveyor)
44