The Effect of Moisture Content on the Physico-Mechanical Properties of Some Hazelnut Varieties

Abstract

To better understand storage design requirements for hazelnuts, this research determined the physico-mechanical parameters (bulk density, true density, angle of internal friction, static coefficient of friction and dynamic coefficient of friction) of hazelnut varieties Tombul, Badem, Mincane, Çaki{dotless}ldak and Sivri, for different structural surfaces. Physico-mechanical parameters (bulk density, true density, angle of internal friction, static coefficient of friction and dynamic coefficient of friction) were considered as the dependent variables, and moisture content (8%, 12%, 16%, 20%) as the independent variable. The temperature recorded in the laboratory during the experiments was 24.3 °C. The highest average value for bulk density (520 kg m-3) was recorded for the Sivri variety, the highest average value for angle of internal friction (35.4°) for the Badem variety, and the highest average value for true density (870 kg m-3) for the Mincane variety. The highest average values for static coefficient of friction (0.411) and the dynamic coefficient of friction (0.287) were recorded for concrete surfaces and the Badem variety. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.