An instrument for rapid powder flow measurement and temporal fractal analysis

An instrument enabling the measurement, at a high sampling rate, of the mas s of a powder flowing from a vibrating spatula has been constructed. Semico nductor strain gauges were used in the instrument as sensitive and rapid-re sponse transducers facilitating mass measurement in these studies. Data col lection and processing was performed automatically by computer. Computer so ftware was developed for analysis of fractal dimension as a component of th e instrument, to automate an established method for determination of the te mporal fractal dimension of mass flow data. The rise time response of the i nstrument was an order of magnitude faster than instrumentation used previo usly [1]. Fractal dimensions determined using this instrument in a study of lactose powders on a vibrating spatula were approximately an order of magn itude larger than those reported previously.