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Igbozulike, A. O.
Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
Orji, F. N.
Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Oyinloye, G. M.
Department of Food Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri.
Nwakuba, N. R.
Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Ehiem, J. C.
Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Diabana, P.
Department of Agricultural & Bio-environmental Engineering, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
ABSTRACT
The effects of
loading orientation and moisture content on some mechanical properties of
bitter kola seeds relevant in the design of postharvest systems for the seed
were studied. The properties investigated were deformation (mm), rupture stress
(Nmm-2), toughness (J), and Young’s modulus (Nmm-2). The
moisture contents of the seed ranges from 39.79 to 52.45% wet basis, and the
two loading orientations are longitudinal and transverse positions. The
deformation values increased from 12.194 to 18.807mm and decreased from 14.492
to 7.612 mm as the moisture contents increased for longitudinal and transverse
loadings, respectively. The toughness decreased from 4.751 to 1.710 J with
moisture increase for longitudinal loading, whereas for transverse loading, the
toughness increased from 1.768 to 3.734 J but decreased to 1.119 J with
moisture increase. The Young Modulus decreased from 3137.72 to 981.70 Nmm-2
with increase in moisture under longitudinal loading, and increased from
1000.60 to 4619.58 Nmm-2 but decreased to 2766.16 Nmm-2
as the moisture increased under transverse loading. The rupture stress was
found to decrease with moisture increase under longitudinal loading from 515.78
to 194.08 Nmm-2 and increased from 994.08 to 1427.00 Nmm-2
but decreased to 641.34 Nmm-2 as moisture increased under transverse
loading. The seeds required lesser energy to achieve greater deformation under
longitudinal loading.
Keywords: bitter kola seeds, mechanical properties, compressive test, moisture content, loading orientation
https://doi.org/10.33922/j.ujet_si1_3
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Special Issue
2019 Special Issue Vol. 5 No. 3
Date Published
Monday, 06 April 2020
The contents of the articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and not of UJET.
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