Dynamic ball indentation: advancing powder flowability characterization through complete impact dynamics analysis

• Dynamic Ball Indentation (DBI) quantifies dynamic hardness via maximum resistance force determination. • The method analyzes indenter dynamics to measure resistance during penetration. • Distinct indenter dynamics explain hardness differences in sodium bicarbonate and ceramic powder. • DBI results align with yield stress from shear cell tests, validating the approach. • The study highlights DBI’s potential for elastic behavior analysis and cohesive materials. Predicting how particulate materials behave under applied forces is challenging due to their complex rheology. Flowability—defined as a material’s ability to initiate and sustain motion under stress—is critical in many traditional and emerging industrial applications, such as additive manufacturing. Traditional shear testers are limited in their ability to assess dynamic flow behaviour. The dynamic ball indentation method, which measures the penetration of an indenter into a powder bed, presents a promising alternative. This study enhances the method by tracking the full indentation process to more accurately calculate dynamic hardness. By monitoring the indenter’s trajectory, we obtain detailed data on material flowability, which can provide deeper insights for industrial applications. These insights become even more significant when integrated with information obtained from traditional methods such as shear cell testing.