Effect of Different Moisture Content on Physical Properties of Bangalore Red Gram-2 (Brg-2) Variety for Designing of Post Harvest Equipment

A study was conducted to determine the physical properties of red gram (variety-BRG-2) required during designing of post harvest processing, transportation and storage equipment as a function of different moisture content varying from 8% to 18% (w.b). The length, width, thickness and geometric mean diameter increased linearly from 5.98 to 6.85, 5.19 to 5.79, 3.75 to 4.73 and 4.88 to 5.72 mm respectively. The sphericity, seed volume, seed surface area and seed mass also increased linearly from 0.816 to 0.839, 74.495 to 104.13mm³, 235.039 to 322.92 mm² and 92.75 to 109.32 g respectively as moisture content changes from 8 to 18% (wb). The bulk density and true density decreased linearly from 846.11 to 770.15 kg/m³, and 1300 to 1239.57 kg/m³ as porosity and terminal velocity slightly increased from 34.91 to 37.86 and 7.4 to 10.9 m/s respectively. Co-efficient of static friction was found to be highest against plywood surface followed by galvanized iron and stainless steel surfaces from 0.240 to 0.412, 0.204 to 0.335 and 0.173 to 0.323 and angle of repose linearly from 19.26 to 28.75 respectively.