Abstract
Determination of the mechanical properties (rupture force, deformation, hardness, and toughness) of maize grain could be a significant concern for designing the harvester, thresher, and handling, processing, and storage equipment. Thus, the present research was conducted to assess the vertical and lateral rupture force, deformation, hardness, and toughness of maize grain (Beijing Denong, Lianchuang, Suyu 20, Liyu 88 and Suyu 29) influenced by different moisture contents (11.2%, 17.5%, and 21.3%) and compressive loading speeds (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mm/min, respectively). Besides, the mean length, width, thickness, geometric mean diameter, equivalent diameter, arithmetic diameter, sphericity, grain volume, surface area, and aspect ratio of the selected varieties were measured. The results showed that the highest length, width, thickness and sphericity, grain volume, surface area, and aspect ratio were obtained at moisture of 21.3%, whereas the lowest was at 11.2%. Moreover, it was observed that as increasing the loading speed from 5 to 25 mm/min, the vertical and lateral rupture forces decreased. However, as increasing moisture contents from 11.2% to 21.3%, the vertical and lateral rupture forces, hardness, and toughness decreased noticeably. Furthermore, the maximum correlation (R2=0.9957) between rupture force and loading speed was found for Liyu 88 at moisture of 17.5% and minimum correlation (R2=0.7002) was found for Suyu 29 at moisture of 11.2%. Moreover, the highest lateral and vertical rupture force was noticed (p<0.05) at a loading speed of 5 mm/min. Based on the experimentally obtained results, it was concluded that the properties of maize grain evaluated were relevant to the design of planter, harvesters, thrashers, and processing machine. Keywords: maize grain, moisture content, compressive loading speeds, mechanical properties, orientation DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20211404.6072 Citation: Chandio F A, Li Y M, Ma Z, Ahmad F, Syed T N, Shaikh S A, et al. Influences of moisture content and compressive loading speed on the mechanical properties of maize grain orientations. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2021; 14(4): 41–49.
Highlights
Maize is an important economical cash crop and food material over the globe
The results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) for moisture content, varieties, and loading speed effect on the vertical and lateral rupture force of maize grains are presented in Tables 1 and 2
It was found that the interaction effects of moisture content×loading speed, moisture content ×varieties, loading speed ×varieties, and moisture content × loading speed ×variety on the vertical and lateral rupture force were significant (p
Summary
Maize is an important economical cash crop and food material over the globe. in China, maize plays a pivotal role in the national economy. Data on the strength and physical properties of agricultural products are required for designing equipment and machine for efficient transporting, handling, processing, and storage, and are all focused on maize quality during harvesting, handling, transportation, separating, drying, aeration, sizing, storing, packing, and other processing. Information about strength properties is needed for agro-machine manufacturers and for food scientists. As a function of loading speed and moisture, physical and strength properties play an important role and help to design the processing, harvesting, separating, sizing and grinding, planting and storage equipment of maize grains. Regarding the mechanical properties of grains, compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, dent force, and other parameters were considered. Engineering data is required to study grain strength force to rupture under harvesting, handling, and drying conditions[1]
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