Evaluation and modeling some engineering properties of three safflower varieties

Abstract

Several physical properties of three safflower cultivars (IL-111, LRV51- 51 and Zarghan279) at moisture contents of 10, 15, 20 and 25% were determined and compared. All the linear dimensions, geometric mean diameter and sphericity of safflower seeds increase linearly with increase in seed moisture content. The values of geometric properties were higher for IL-111cultivar than the LRV51-51 and Zarghan279 cultivars. The values of the bulk densities decreased, whereas the thousand seeds mass, true density and porosity were increased with increase in seed moisture content. All the gravimetric properties for the three cultivars of safflower were significantly different (p<0.05). The values of the terminal velocity for all cultivars were significantly increased as the moisture content increased. The terminal velocity for the three cultivars of safflower were significantly different (p<0.05). On the two different surfaces, the coefficient of static friction of the IL-111 cultivar was significantly greater than that of the other cultivars. The static coefficient of friction was higher on plywood and lower for galvanized steel. The values of the angle of repose increased with increase of the moisture content. The values of the angle of repose for Zarghan279 cultivar were higher than the IL-111, LRV51-51 cultivars.