Effect of moisture content and loading orientation on some strength properties relevant in the design of snake gourd (trichosanthescucumerina. l) seed handing device

Abstract

The knowledge of mechanical properties under applied forces is very important to engineers during the design and handling of agricultural products. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of moisture content and loading orientation on some strength properties of snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina. L) seed. The strength properties measured are compressive extension at yield, compressive strain at yield, compressive load at yield, compressive load at break and energy at yield. These properties were evaluated at five moisture levels (6.3, 8.6, 12, 14, and 17% dry basis) under the three loading orientations (length, width and thickness). The results show that loading orientation has great effect on the compressive properties of the seed. At all moisture content of the seed considered, it was found that the width orientation had the highest compressive extension  (32.5mm) and compressive strain at yield (1.3 mm/mm) while the thickness orientation had the highest measurement for compressive load at yield (73 N)  and  load at break (260 N)  at 6.3 % (db) moisture content.  The energy at yield was found to be highest at the length orientation (1.3 J) and lowest at the width orientation (0.16J) at 6.3 % (db) moisture content. The result of this experiment shows that as the moisture content is increasing the value of the compressive forces decreases. The result of this study will be very useful in the design of the seed washer, cleaner and decorticator.