Moisture-dependent physical and mechanical properties of hawthorn (Crataegus aronia)

Abstract

 In this study, some important physical and mechanical properties of the hawthorn and the effect of moisture on them were investigated.  The effect of moisture at two levels (64.01% and 70.1%, w.b.) on the geometric dimensions (length, width, thickness, arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter, degree of sphericity, surface area, projected area, criteria projected area, mass, volume and the apparent), true density, porosity, coefficient of static friction and coefficient of rolling on three levels (wood, glass and galvanized) and mechanical properties obtained by impact testing machine using a randomized factorial design was evaluated by software SPSS18.  Results indicate that moisture has an effect on the physical properties of the hawthorn.  The moisture content of 70.1% of all physical properties except the true density and porosity values​​ is greater than 64.01% moisture there.  Coefficient of static friction with increasing moisture increased and coefficient of rolling decreased.  Moisture has an effect on the mechanical properties of hawthorn also.  With increasing moisture, all the mechanical properties except dL in F_max decreased (dL is changing the shape of the force and F_max is the maximum force).

Keywords: hawthorn, physical properties, maximum force at impact, mechanical properties, moisture content