Computer simulations using Distinct Element Method (DEM) have been carried out to investigate the effect of cohesion on the flowability of polydisperse particulate systems. For this purpose, two assemblies with different values of surface energy and made of 3000 spheres with the mechanical properties of glass beads were considered. The analysis of the flowability of the powders is presented in terms of the unconfined yield stress as a function of strain rate for different pre-consolidation loads. For values of the surface energy of 1.0 J/m(2) and strain rates lower than 6 s(-1), the unconfined yield stress does not change significantly indicating a quasi-static behaviour of the particulate assemblies during the compression process. For larger strain rates, the unconfined yield stress varies with the power index of 1.2 of the strain rate. The influence of the pre-consolidating stress on the powder behaviour has also been investigated and a flow factor was obtained from the linear relationship between the unconfined yield stress and pre-consolidation stress. The computer simulations show qualitatively a good agreement with the experimental trends on highly cohesive powder flow behaviour. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.