The comparison of the elastic properties of the particle assembly in a vibrator determined by the top cap method, the apparent mass method and the energy dissipation method

The elastic properties of 400 μm polyethylene powders and 335 μm glass beads in a vibrator were dynamically determined using the apparent mass method, the top cap method and the energy dissipation method. The particle assembly resonance frequencies determined using these three methods were of the similar values. The average resonance frequency of 400 μm polyethylene powder bed of 0.015 m in height is 340 Hz with the standard deviation of 32.2 Hz. The average resonance frequency of 335 μm glass bead bed of 0.015 m in height is 165.7 Hz with the standard deviation of 13.5 Hz. Although all three methods can be utilized to determine the particle assembly resonance frequencies, the top cap method is recommended because this method can determine the particle assembly stiffness constant and the particle assembly damping constant in the same experimental run.