Bulksterkte

Bulksterkte, often translated as bulk strength, is a term used in materials science and related fields to describe the resistance of a material when loaded in its bulk form. It refers to how much stress the entire mass can withstand before deforming or failing, as opposed to properties measured on single fibers, grains, or thin films. In practice, bulk strength can encompass various related measures, including compressive strength, yield strength under bulk loading, and the overall integrity of a bulk specimen such as a packed powder, soil, or ceramic body.

Measurement and interpretation of bulk strength typically involve compression testing on bulk samples. Uniaxial compression tests on compacted powders, soils, or solid masses yield a maximum stress at failure, which is reported as compressive strength. For soils, bulk strength is often connected to soil mechanics concepts like cohesion and friction under confined or semi-confined conditions. Factors such as density, porosity, moisture content, particle size distribution, bonding between particles, and history of processing or loading strongly influence bulk strength.

Applications of bulk strength assessment appear in geotechnical engineering, pharmaceutical manufacturing (tablet and pellet formation), ceramic and powder metallurgy processing, and bulk material handling. Understanding bulk strength helps in predicting stability, transport, compaction behavior, and structural performance of bulk solids under real-world loading conditions.

Note that the term bulksterkte can be used differently across disciplines, and it may be closely related to, but distinct from, bulk modulus or localized mechanical properties. See also compressive strength, bulk modulus, soil mechanics, and powder compaction.