Effect of Moisture Content on Coefficients of Friction between Triticale and Galvanized Steel
Abstract. Grain physical properties such as coefficients of friction are required to design harvesting, cleaning, and handing equipment, and storage structures. The objective of this study was to measure coefficients of friction between triticale grain and galvanized steel at grain pressures and velocities typical of those seen when filling and emptying storage bins and hoppers. Coefficients of friction were measured using an apparatus consisting of a box with openings so that a galvanized steel blade could be pulled through a sample of grain. The forces required to pulling the blades through the grain were measured for three different moisture contents [8%, 12%, and 16% wet basis(wb)] and three different normal pressures (6.9, 10.3, and 13.8 kPa). The velocity of the blade being pulled through grain was kept constant at 50 mm/min for all pressures and moisture contents. Keywords: Grain bin, Grain pressure, Grain storage.Coefficients of friction were found to be statistically significantly dependent (p <0.0001) on moisture contents of triticale grain and were not statistically significantly influenced (p=0.149) by normal pressures. Coefficients of friction increased with increasing moisture content as has been observed in similar studies for grains including corn, wheat and soybeans. These results provide guidance for selecting physical properties for design of storage structures for triticale. Keywords: Grain bin, Grain pressure, Grain storage.