Engineering properties of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) grains

Abstract

The engineering properties of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) were determined at moisture content of 11.75% and 12.52% (db). The mean values obtained for length, width and thickness were 5.56 mm and 10.15 mm, 5.05 mm and 8.11 mm, 3.56 mm and 4.22 mm, respectively. The average value for geometric mean diameter, sphericity, bulk density, true density and porosity were 4.64 mm and 7.03 mm, 0.83 and 0.69, 814.62 kg/m3 and 726.34 kg/m3, 1455.44 kg/m3 and 1211.79 kg/m3, 0.44% and 0.40% respectively. The angle of repose mean value was 40.50° and 45.52°. The co-efficient of static friction on three types of structural material were found to be 0.21 and 0.51 (steel), 0.31 and 0.52 (galvanised iron sheet) and 0.26 and 0.4 (wooden).