Models of mechanical cutting parameters in terms of moisture content and cross section area of sugarcane stalks

Abstract

The objective of this study was to find optimizing moisture content and cutting area of sugarcane stalk cutting parameters using multiple regressions and to verify the optimum levels of the variables.  The effect of moisture content and cutting section area on mechanical cutting properties of sugarcane stalks was studied using a linear blade cutting and UTM (Universal Testing Machine) size reduction device.  Data obtained in the laboratory were divided into four different groups in order to determine the peak force, cutting energy, ultimate stress and specific energy.  Additional criterions were also proposed and used as an indicator of the cutting performance.  These were the marginal cutting parameter (MCP) and return to scale (RTS).  The data obtained in the laboratory were then used to develop functions in polynomial form that allowed the calculation of the optimum level of each independent variable considered in the study.  Moisture content had the highest effect on peak force, ultimate stress and specific energy with an impact of -15.936, -0.147 and -0.179, respectively.  Also cutting energy affected with cutting section area with a 36.06 coefficient.  The high moisture content level compared to low moisture content level produced a significant reduction in the peak force, ultimate stress and specific energy.  Cutting parameters were relatively insensitive to moisture content of sugarcane stalk more than cutting section area of that.

Keywords: mechanical cutting, moisture content, sugarcane stalk, cutting energy