Deformation and fracture of dika nut (Irvingia gabonensis) under uni-axial compressive loading
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Date
2008-01-16
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences
Abstract
Fracture behaviour of dika nut under quasi-static
loading along the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis was
investigated. The fracture resistance of the nut was measured in
terms of average force, deformation and toughness at nutshell
fracture, and nut stiffness. Physical dimensions and shape of the
nut, to provide for complementary input in design of handling
equipment, were also determined. The force required to crack the
nut increased with nut diameter but was not significantly different
in both loading orientations. The mean cracking force was in the
range of 2.06 to 3.67 kN. The compression of the nut exhibited a pronounced
linearity between load and deflection. Dika nuts loaded
along the transverse axis required less energy for nutshell fracture
than those loaded along the longitudinal axis. Minimum toughness
occurred with the small size nuts loaded along the transverse axis,
thus providing base-line data in future design of an appropriate
nutcracker.
Description
International Journal Of Agrophysics,No.22,p.249-253.
Keywords
fracture behaviour,, dika nut,, quasi-static loading,, nut cracker