This study was a preliminary investigation of the ability of a Blade Hardness Gauge (BHG) to reveal distinct
behaviours in granular materials. A blade hardness gauge was constructed and used to investigate force
versus time curves in dry/moist sand, polystyrene beads and snow. The effects of blade details, insertion
speed (6-20mm/s), insertion direction (vertical or horizontal) of the blade were examined. There was a small
but measurable effect on the blade details. The smaller cross-sectional area resulted in reduced forces. The
insertion of blades vertically into dry sand is well described by an exponential force versus depth
relationship, and importantly, independent on insertion speed. The vertical insertion into polystyrene beads
shows a linear (weak exponential) dependence of the force as a function of the speed. The investigation into
moisture laden sand shows an increasing force required for insertion up to about 20% moisture content, then
decreasing back to dry sand equivalent for saturated sand (slurry). The use of the blade hardness gauge with
snow revealed the force has a sigmoidal increase followed by a plateau, then an unexpected increase again.
This preliminary study suggests the blade hardness gauge to be capable of identifying distinct granular
materials and their behaviors, including moisture content and differences in snow layers
