Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
The mechanical strength of cumin seed and the effects of moisture content, seed size, speed and direction of loading on the force and energy required to fracture cumin seed were investigated. The results showed that moisture and loading direction were significant at the 1% level on the force and energy required to fracture cumin seed. The effects of seed size on force and loading speed on energy were also significant at the 1% level. Increasing moisture content decreased mechanical strength and increased elasticity under loading. The energy absorption capacity of wet seed was higher than that of dry seed and led to increased seed strength under loading. The highest energy absorption (15.31mJ) was found for small seeds at 15% moisture content under horizontal loading and the lowest energy absorption (1.72mJ) was found for large seeds at 5.7% moisture content under vertical loading. Small seeds with 5.7% moisture content under horizontal loading had the highest mechanical strength and large seeds at 15% moisture content under vertical loading had the lowest mechanical strength.
Keywords
73-78.
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