Physical and Mechanical Properties of Alfalfa Grind as Affected by Particle Size and Moisture Content

Ghorbani, Z.; Hemmat, A.; Masoumi, A. A.

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Tarbiat Modares University Press

Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology

Volume 14, Issue 1 (2012) JAST 2012, 14(1): 65-76 | Back to browse issues page

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Ghorbani Z, Hemmat A, Masoumi A A. Physical and Mechanical Properties of Alfalfa Grind as Affected by Particle Size and Moisture Content. JAST 2012; 14 (1) :65-76
URL: http://jast.modares.ac.ir/article-23-3546-en.html

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Alfalfa Grind as Affected by Particle Size and Moisture Content

Z. Ghorbani¹

, A. Hemmat ^*

¹, A. A. Masoumi¹

1- Department of Farm Machinery, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, P. O. Box: 84156-83111, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Abstract: (6578 Views)

Physical and mechanical properties of alfalfa (Medicago sativa, L.) grind are required for optimum design of equipment used in transporting, processing and storage of the material. This study was conducted to determine the effect of particle size (2.38, 3.36 and 4.76 mm) and moisture content (8, 9.3 and 11% wb) on some physical and mechanical properties of alfalfa grind. These properties include: geometric mean diameter, bulk density, coefficient of static friction (on galvanized iron, Plexiglass, rubber and polished steel surfaces), filling angle of repose, coefficient of internal friction, cohesion, and adhesion to polished steel plate. The bulk density varied from 161.6 to 202.2 kg m-3. The coefficient of static friction changed from 0.26 on polished steel plate to 0.87 on rubber surface. Larger particles with higher moisture content had the highest filling angle of repose (54.5°). The coefficient of internal friction varied from 0.64 to 0.88. The 2.38-mm alfalfa grind at moisture content of 11% (wb), and the 4.76-mm at moisture content of 8% (wb) had the highest and lowest cohesion (7.65 and 4.80 kPa), respectively. The adhesion on polished steel plate varied from 0.19 to 1.54 kPa.

Keywords: Alfalfa grind, Bulk density, Coefficient of static friction, Cohesion

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Received: 2011/11/1 | Accepted: 2011/11/1 | Published: 2011/11/1

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