Moisture-Dependent Some Engineering Properties of Soybean Grains

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of moisture content on some physical properties and mechanical behaviour under compression load of soybean grains. Four levels of moisture content ranging from 6.92 to 21.19% d.b. were used. The average length, width, thickness, arithmetic and geometric mean diameter, surface area, thousand grains mass and angle of repose increased as the moisture content increased from 6.92 to 21.19%. As the moisture content increased from 6.92 to 21.19% d.b., the bulk density and true density were found to decrease from 650.95 to 625.36 kg/m3 and 1147.86 to 1126.43 kg/m3 respectively, while the porosity was found to increase from 43.29 to 44.48%. The static coefficient of friction of soybean increased linearly against various surfaces as the moisture content increased from 6.92 to 21.19% d.b. The rupture energy of the grains increased in magnitude with an increase in moisture content, while rupture force decreased.