. The definitions used to classify flaky or elongated
particles are rather arbitrary. In theory, the shape classification
of a particle should be dependent only on its
shape, not on its size. However, with the present definitions
used, whether or not a particle is flaky or elongated
is dependent not only on its shape but also on its
sieve size. For instance, a particle having its sieve size
equal to the mean sieve size of the size fraction to
which it belongs and a thickness equal to 0.6 times its
sieve size is regarded as flaky, while another particle
of similar shape but slightly larger size would be regarded
as not flaky. A similar situation happens with
the classification of elongated particles.