Abstract:

The physico-mechanical properties of lettuce seeds are essential for the design of equipment for harvesting, transporting, cleaning, separating, packing, seed coating, storing and processing. The aim of this study was to determine some physico-mechanical properties of lettuce seeds. The geometric, gravimetric, aerodynamic, and mechanical properties and friction characteristics of lettuce seeds were obtained. According to the results, the averages length, width and thickness of lettuce seeds with a moisture content of 8,09% d.b. were measured as 3,36 mm, 0,84 mm and 0,54 mm, respectively with a projected area of 2,79 mm2. The sphericity of lettuce seeds was calculated as 0,34. The thousand grain of mass, bulk density, true density, volume, and porosity of lettuce seeds were measured as 1,09 g, 0,463 g cm-3, 1,153 g cm-3, 0,871 cm3, and 59,84%, respectively. The terminal velocity was measured as 3,46 m s-1. The static coefficient of friction was measured on four different surfaces, namely, stainless steel, aluminium, plywood and rubber. The results were found to be 0,198, 0,278, 0,346 and 0,352, respectively. The dynamic angle of repose of lettuce seeds was specified as 20,33°, 18,99°, 20,34° and 21,05° on same surfaces. In addition, the static response angle was 22,55º and the shelling resistance was found as 1,29 kg.

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