Mechanical Behaviour of Hazelnut under Compression Loading

Aci Findik, Cakildak, Tombul, and Güney Karasi varieties of hazelnut were loaded between two parallel plates to determine the specific deformation, rupture force, and rupture energy required to initiate shell and kernel rupture. The tests were carried out at two deformation rates of 0·52, and 0·91 mm s−1, four moisture contents of 6, 11, 15, and 18% w.b., and three axes (X,Y,Z). The X-axis is the longitudinal axis through the hilum, while the Y-axis is the transverse axis containing the major dimension at right angles to the longitudinal axis, and the Z-axis is the transverse axis containing the minimum dimension. Physical characteristics of nut and kernel such as mass, dimensions, geometric mean diameter and sphericity were determined. Specific deformation and rupture energy of the shell generally increased in magnitude with an increase in moisture content while rupture force decreased for compression along the X- and Y-axis. The highest nut shell specific deformation, rupture force and rupture energy among the four varieties were obtained for Aci Findik nuts loaded along the Z-axis at a deformation rate of 0·52 mm s−1. The Tombul and Güney Karasi varieties had the highest kernel rupture force and rupture energy, respectively.