Mechanical Properties of Grains Sorghum Subjected to Compression at Different Moisture Contents

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of drying at different temperatures on the mechanical properties of grains of grain sorghum subjected to compression at the natural rest position. Grains dried at temperatures of 60, 80 and 100 °C with different moisture contents (0.515; 0.408; 0.315; 0.234; 0.162 and 0.099 (d.b.)) were subjected to uniaxial compression between two parallel plates, applied at their natural rest position, at a rate of 0.001 m s-1. The force required to rupture in grains of grain sorghum increased as their moisture contents decreased, with values of 47.17 to 78.44 N, 61.81 to 69.66 N and 52.07 to 70.89 N for the temperatures of 60, 80 and 100 °C, respectively. The compression force required to deform grain sorghum decreased with the increment in moisture content, and the proportional deformation modulus increases with moisture content reduction. Within the studied range of moisture content, the values were 87 × 10-7 to 354.99 × 10-7 Pa, 132.63 × 10-7 to 465.98 × 10-7 Pa and 80.18 × 10-7 to 429.85 × 10-7 Pa for the temperatures of 60, 80 and 100 °C, respectively.