Experimental study on compression fracture characteristics of wheat grains with different moisture content
Main Article Content
Keywords
Compression test, crack propagation, fracture characteristics, moisture content, wheat grains
Abstract
Wheat grains are subjected to various external mechanical forces that lead to deformation or even fracture during sowing, harvesting, storage, and processing. Wheat grains with different moisture content exhibit different mechanical properties. Therefore, compressive mechanical properties of wheat grains with different moisture contents at different directions were conducted by TMS-Pro physical properties analyzer in the present paper. Results show that geometric dimensional size of wheat grains increase with moisture content. When compressed at different directions, deformation of wheat grains increase while mechanical properties decrease with moisture content. A crack through endosperm is formed on the back of grains, and finally throughout the whole ventral groove when wheat grains are compressed at the L-axis and H-axis directions. And, cracks form on the contact area between grains and compression plates when grains are compressed at the B-axis direction. Number, length, and width of cracks in wheat grains decrease with moisture content. The gap between starch particles of wheat grains with high moisture content is smaller, combination of internal particles is much tighter, and viscoelasticity is increased. Therefore, mechanical properties of wheat grains should be higher with lesser moisture content during sowing, harvesting, and storage, while it should be lower with bigger moisture content during the processing of grains.
References
Acar O., Sanal T., and Köksel H., 2019. Effects of wheat kernel size on hardness and various quality characteristics. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods 11(5): 459–464. 10.3920/QAS2019.1552
Aktaş K., Bilgiçli N., and Levent H., 2015. Influence of wheat germ and β-glucan on some chemical and sensory properties of Turkish noodle. Journal of Food Science and Technology 52: 6055–6060. 10.1007/s13197-014-1677-z
ASAE S368.4 DEC2000 (R2008), 2008. Compression Test of Food Materials of Convex Shape. St. Joseph: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.
Babić L., Babić M., Turan J., et al. 2011. Physical and stress–strain properties of wheat (Triticum aestivum) kernel. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 91(7): 1236–1243. 10.1002/jsfa.4305
Barrera G.N., Méndez-Méndez J., Arzate-Vázquez I., et al., 2019. Nano-and micro-mechanical properties of wheat grain by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nano-indentation (IIT) and their relationship with the mechanical properties evaluated by uniaxial compression test. Journal of Cereal Science 90: 102830. 10.1016/j.jcs.2019.102830
Başlar M., Kalkan F., Kara M., et al. 2012. Correlation between the protein content and mechanical properties of wheat. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 36(5): 601–607. 10.3906/tar-1112-51
Bian L., and Liu Z., 2024. Sustainable rural economy and food security: An integrated approach to the circular agricultural model. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods 16(2): 65–80. 10.15586/qas.v16i2.1450
Canay F.U., Sanal T., and Koksel H., 2022. Quality and nutritional characteristics of durum wheats grown in Anatolia. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods 14(4): 169–177. 10.15586/qas.v14i4.1170
Chen N., and Li H., 2024. Agricultural economic security under the model of integrated agricultural industry development. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods 16(3): 25–41. 10.15586/qas.v16i3.1470
Chen Z.P., Wassgren C., and Ambrose R.P.K., 2021. Measured damage resistance of corn and wheat kernels to compression, friction, and repeated impacts. Powder Technology 380: 638–648. 10.1016/j.powtec.2020.11.012
Chen Z., Wassgren C., and Ambrose R.P.K., 2020. A review of grain kernel damage: Mechanisms, modeling, and testing procedures. Transactions of the ASABE 63(2): 455–475. 10.13031/trans.13643
Demir M.K., Bilgiçli N., Türker T., et al., 2021. Enriched Turkish noodles (Erişte) with stabilized wheat germ: Chemical, nutritional and cooking properties. Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft & Technologie 149: 111819. 10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111819
Dufour M., Chaunier L., Lourdin D., et al., 2024. Unravelling the relationships between wheat dough extensional properties, gluten network and water distribution. Food Hydrocolloids 146: 109214. https://www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/
Escalante-Aburto A., Figueroa-Cárdenas J.D., Dominguez-Lopez A., et al., 2023. Multivariate analysis on the properties of intact cereal kernels and their association with viscoelasticity at different moisture contents. Foods 12(4): 808. 10.3390/foods12040808
Ficco D.B.M., Beleggia R., Pecorella I., et al., 2020. Relationship between seed morphological traits and ash and mineral distribution along the kernel using debranning in durum wheats from different geographic sites. Foods 9(11): 1523. 10.3390/foods9111523
Fu J., Chen Z., Han L.J., et al., 2018. Review of grain threshing theory and technology. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering 11(3): 12–20. 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181103.3432
Gao P., Tian S.Q., Xue X.A., et al., 2024. Determination methods and influencing factors of grain mechanical properties. Journal of Food Quality 2024(1): 3407485. 10.1155/2024/3407485
Gorji A., Rajabipour A., and Tavakoli H., 2010. Fracture resistance of wheat grain as a function of moisture content, loading rate and grain orientation. Australian Journal of Crop Science 4(6): 448–452. https://webofscience.clarivate.cn/wos/alldb/full-record/WOS:000281862100012
Huang H., Liu Y.F., Zhu S.P., et al., 2024. Detection of mechanical damage in corn seeds using hyperspectral imaging and the ResNeSt_E deep learning network. Agriculture 14(10): 1780. 10.3390/agriculture14101780
Jia F., Wang J.S., Fan P., et al., 2014. Analysis of finite element method on mechanical properties of wheat kernel. Interdisciplinary Sciences: Computational Life Sciences 6: 340–343. 10.1007/s12539-014-0206-0
Jia F., Zhou X.P., Chen F.Q., et al., 2015. The calculations and simulation testing on the elastic modulus of wheat. Interdisciplinary Sciences: Computational Life Sciences, 7: 200–204. 10.1007/s12539-014-0249-2
Kaliniewicz Z., Markowska-Mendik A., and Warechowska M., 2022. An evaluation of selected engineering properties of polish durum wheat grain. Journal of Cereal Science 104: 103401. 10.1016/j.jcs.2021.103401
Kasraei M., Nejadi J., and Shafiei S., 2015. Relationships between grain physicochemical and mechanical properties of some Iranian wheat cultivars. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 17(3): 635–647. https://webofscience.clarivate.cn/wos/alldb/full-record/WOS:000360584200010
Kubík Ľ., Božiková M., and Kažimírová V., 2021. Mechanical properties of wheat grains at compression. Acta Technologica Agriculturae 24(4): 202–208. 10.2478/ata-2021-0033
Li A., Wang P., Shao L., et al., 2024. AI-based automatic identification and processing techniques for agricultural safety information. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods 16(3): 42–55. 10.15586/qas.v16i3.1495
Li Y.M., Chandio F.A., Ma Z., et al., 2018. Mechanical strength of wheat grain varieties influenced by moisture content and loading rate. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering 11(4): 52–57. 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181104.3737
Lu C.Y., Gao Z., Li H.W., et al., 2023. An ellipsoid modelling method for discrete element simulation of wheat seeds. Biosystems Engineering 226: 1–15. 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2022.12.009
NY/T 1094.1–2006, 2006. Experimental milling of wheat. Part 1: Equipment, sample preparation and moistening. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China.
Omarov A., Aman S., Müller P., et al., 2012. Mikromechanische Eigenschaften von Weizenkörnern. Chemie Ingenieur Technik 4(84): 535–539. 10.1002/cite.201100123
Ponce-García N., Figueroa J.D.C., López-Huape G.A., et al., 2008. Study of viscoelastic properties of wheat kernels using compression load method. Cereal Chemistry 85(5): 667–672. 10.1094/CCHEM-85-5-0667
Ponce-García N., Ramírez-Wong B., Escalante-Aburto A., et al., 2016. Mechanical properties in wheat (Triticum aestivum) kernels evaluated by compression tests: A review. Viscoelastic and Viscoplastic Materials 21–33. 10.5772/64171
Ponce-García N., Ramírez-Wong B., Torres-Chávez P.I., et al., 2013. Effect of moisture content on the viscoelastic properties of individual wheat kernels evaluated by the uniaxial compression test under small strain. Cereal Chemistry 90(6): 558–563. 10.1094/CCHEM-12-12-0166-R
Ramaj I., Romuli S., Schock S., et al., 2024. Discrete element modelling of bulk behaviour of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. ‘Pionier’ during compressive loading. Biosystems Engineering 242: 123–139. 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2024.04.005
Tavakoli H., Mohtasebi S.S., Rajabipour A., et al., 2009. Effects of moisture content, loading rate, and grain orientation on fracture resistance of barley grain. Research in Agricultural Engineering 55(3): 85–93. 10.17221/6/2009-rae
Topin V., Radjai F., Delenne J.Y., et al., 2009. Mechanical modeling of wheat hardness and fragmentation. Powder Technology 190(1–2): 215–220. 10.1016/j.powtec.2008.04.070
Voicu G., Tudosie E.M., Ungureanu N., et al., 2013. Some mechanical characteristics of wheat seeds obtained by uniaxial compression tests. Univ. Politeh. Buch. Sci. Bull. D 75(4): 265–278. https://www.engineeringvillage.com/app/doc/?docid=cpx_7608bbee142dd4eae31M57e42061377553
Wang K., Taylor D., Ruan Y.F., et al., 2023. Unveiling the factors affecting milling quality of durum wheat: Influence of kernel physical properties, grain morphology and intrinsic milling behaviours. Journal of Cereal Science 113: 103755. 10.1016/j.jcs.2023.103755
Wang L., and Jeronimidis G., 2008. Investigation of the fracture mode for hard and soft wheat endosperm using the loading–unloading bending test. Journal of Cereal Science 48(1): 193–202. 10.1016/j.jcs.2007.09.004
Wang L.S., Wang W.S., Huang Z.L., et al., 2024. Discrimination of internal crack for rice seeds using near infrared spectroscopy. Spectrochimica Acta, Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 319: 124578. 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124578
Yang S.L., Hui Y., Zhang X.S., et al., 2022. Research progress on the influence of wheat flour quality through moistening technology. Grain and Oil Food Science and Technology 30(06): 1–8. 10.16210/j.cnki.1007-7561.2022.06.001
Zhang C., Hu J.Y., Xu Q., et al., 2024. Mechanical properties and energy evolution mechanism of wheat grain under uniaxial compression. Journal of Stored Products Research 108: 102392. 10.1016/j.jspr.2024.102392
Zhao N., Li B.W., Fu N., et al., 2018. Influence of moisture content on physicomechanical properties, starch-protein microstructure and fractal parameter of oat groats. International Journal of Food Engineering 14(5–6): 20170365. 10.1515/ijfe-2017-0365
Zhou Y., Gao J., Hui Y.B., et al., 2024. Accurate modelling and fracture characteristics of wheat grains. Journal of Stored Products Research 105: 102249. 10.1016/j.jspr.2024.102249
Aktaş K., Bilgiçli N., and Levent H., 2015. Influence of wheat germ and β-glucan on some chemical and sensory properties of Turkish noodle. Journal of Food Science and Technology 52: 6055–6060. 10.1007/s13197-014-1677-z
ASAE S368.4 DEC2000 (R2008), 2008. Compression Test of Food Materials of Convex Shape. St. Joseph: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.
Babić L., Babić M., Turan J., et al. 2011. Physical and stress–strain properties of wheat (Triticum aestivum) kernel. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 91(7): 1236–1243. 10.1002/jsfa.4305
Barrera G.N., Méndez-Méndez J., Arzate-Vázquez I., et al., 2019. Nano-and micro-mechanical properties of wheat grain by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nano-indentation (IIT) and their relationship with the mechanical properties evaluated by uniaxial compression test. Journal of Cereal Science 90: 102830. 10.1016/j.jcs.2019.102830
Başlar M., Kalkan F., Kara M., et al. 2012. Correlation between the protein content and mechanical properties of wheat. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 36(5): 601–607. 10.3906/tar-1112-51
Bian L., and Liu Z., 2024. Sustainable rural economy and food security: An integrated approach to the circular agricultural model. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods 16(2): 65–80. 10.15586/qas.v16i2.1450
Canay F.U., Sanal T., and Koksel H., 2022. Quality and nutritional characteristics of durum wheats grown in Anatolia. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods 14(4): 169–177. 10.15586/qas.v14i4.1170
Chen N., and Li H., 2024. Agricultural economic security under the model of integrated agricultural industry development. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods 16(3): 25–41. 10.15586/qas.v16i3.1470
Chen Z.P., Wassgren C., and Ambrose R.P.K., 2021. Measured damage resistance of corn and wheat kernels to compression, friction, and repeated impacts. Powder Technology 380: 638–648. 10.1016/j.powtec.2020.11.012
Chen Z., Wassgren C., and Ambrose R.P.K., 2020. A review of grain kernel damage: Mechanisms, modeling, and testing procedures. Transactions of the ASABE 63(2): 455–475. 10.13031/trans.13643
Demir M.K., Bilgiçli N., Türker T., et al., 2021. Enriched Turkish noodles (Erişte) with stabilized wheat germ: Chemical, nutritional and cooking properties. Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft & Technologie 149: 111819. 10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111819
Dufour M., Chaunier L., Lourdin D., et al., 2024. Unravelling the relationships between wheat dough extensional properties, gluten network and water distribution. Food Hydrocolloids 146: 109214. https://www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/
Escalante-Aburto A., Figueroa-Cárdenas J.D., Dominguez-Lopez A., et al., 2023. Multivariate analysis on the properties of intact cereal kernels and their association with viscoelasticity at different moisture contents. Foods 12(4): 808. 10.3390/foods12040808
Ficco D.B.M., Beleggia R., Pecorella I., et al., 2020. Relationship between seed morphological traits and ash and mineral distribution along the kernel using debranning in durum wheats from different geographic sites. Foods 9(11): 1523. 10.3390/foods9111523
Fu J., Chen Z., Han L.J., et al., 2018. Review of grain threshing theory and technology. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering 11(3): 12–20. 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181103.3432
Gao P., Tian S.Q., Xue X.A., et al., 2024. Determination methods and influencing factors of grain mechanical properties. Journal of Food Quality 2024(1): 3407485. 10.1155/2024/3407485
Gorji A., Rajabipour A., and Tavakoli H., 2010. Fracture resistance of wheat grain as a function of moisture content, loading rate and grain orientation. Australian Journal of Crop Science 4(6): 448–452. https://webofscience.clarivate.cn/wos/alldb/full-record/WOS:000281862100012
Huang H., Liu Y.F., Zhu S.P., et al., 2024. Detection of mechanical damage in corn seeds using hyperspectral imaging and the ResNeSt_E deep learning network. Agriculture 14(10): 1780. 10.3390/agriculture14101780
Jia F., Wang J.S., Fan P., et al., 2014. Analysis of finite element method on mechanical properties of wheat kernel. Interdisciplinary Sciences: Computational Life Sciences 6: 340–343. 10.1007/s12539-014-0206-0
Jia F., Zhou X.P., Chen F.Q., et al., 2015. The calculations and simulation testing on the elastic modulus of wheat. Interdisciplinary Sciences: Computational Life Sciences, 7: 200–204. 10.1007/s12539-014-0249-2
Kaliniewicz Z., Markowska-Mendik A., and Warechowska M., 2022. An evaluation of selected engineering properties of polish durum wheat grain. Journal of Cereal Science 104: 103401. 10.1016/j.jcs.2021.103401
Kasraei M., Nejadi J., and Shafiei S., 2015. Relationships between grain physicochemical and mechanical properties of some Iranian wheat cultivars. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 17(3): 635–647. https://webofscience.clarivate.cn/wos/alldb/full-record/WOS:000360584200010
Kubík Ľ., Božiková M., and Kažimírová V., 2021. Mechanical properties of wheat grains at compression. Acta Technologica Agriculturae 24(4): 202–208. 10.2478/ata-2021-0033
Li A., Wang P., Shao L., et al., 2024. AI-based automatic identification and processing techniques for agricultural safety information. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods 16(3): 42–55. 10.15586/qas.v16i3.1495
Li Y.M., Chandio F.A., Ma Z., et al., 2018. Mechanical strength of wheat grain varieties influenced by moisture content and loading rate. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering 11(4): 52–57. 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181104.3737
Lu C.Y., Gao Z., Li H.W., et al., 2023. An ellipsoid modelling method for discrete element simulation of wheat seeds. Biosystems Engineering 226: 1–15. 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2022.12.009
NY/T 1094.1–2006, 2006. Experimental milling of wheat. Part 1: Equipment, sample preparation and moistening. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China.
Omarov A., Aman S., Müller P., et al., 2012. Mikromechanische Eigenschaften von Weizenkörnern. Chemie Ingenieur Technik 4(84): 535–539. 10.1002/cite.201100123
Ponce-García N., Figueroa J.D.C., López-Huape G.A., et al., 2008. Study of viscoelastic properties of wheat kernels using compression load method. Cereal Chemistry 85(5): 667–672. 10.1094/CCHEM-85-5-0667
Ponce-García N., Ramírez-Wong B., Escalante-Aburto A., et al., 2016. Mechanical properties in wheat (Triticum aestivum) kernels evaluated by compression tests: A review. Viscoelastic and Viscoplastic Materials 21–33. 10.5772/64171
Ponce-García N., Ramírez-Wong B., Torres-Chávez P.I., et al., 2013. Effect of moisture content on the viscoelastic properties of individual wheat kernels evaluated by the uniaxial compression test under small strain. Cereal Chemistry 90(6): 558–563. 10.1094/CCHEM-12-12-0166-R
Ramaj I., Romuli S., Schock S., et al., 2024. Discrete element modelling of bulk behaviour of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. ‘Pionier’ during compressive loading. Biosystems Engineering 242: 123–139. 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2024.04.005
Tavakoli H., Mohtasebi S.S., Rajabipour A., et al., 2009. Effects of moisture content, loading rate, and grain orientation on fracture resistance of barley grain. Research in Agricultural Engineering 55(3): 85–93. 10.17221/6/2009-rae
Topin V., Radjai F., Delenne J.Y., et al., 2009. Mechanical modeling of wheat hardness and fragmentation. Powder Technology 190(1–2): 215–220. 10.1016/j.powtec.2008.04.070
Voicu G., Tudosie E.M., Ungureanu N., et al., 2013. Some mechanical characteristics of wheat seeds obtained by uniaxial compression tests. Univ. Politeh. Buch. Sci. Bull. D 75(4): 265–278. https://www.engineeringvillage.com/app/doc/?docid=cpx_7608bbee142dd4eae31M57e42061377553
Wang K., Taylor D., Ruan Y.F., et al., 2023. Unveiling the factors affecting milling quality of durum wheat: Influence of kernel physical properties, grain morphology and intrinsic milling behaviours. Journal of Cereal Science 113: 103755. 10.1016/j.jcs.2023.103755
Wang L., and Jeronimidis G., 2008. Investigation of the fracture mode for hard and soft wheat endosperm using the loading–unloading bending test. Journal of Cereal Science 48(1): 193–202. 10.1016/j.jcs.2007.09.004
Wang L.S., Wang W.S., Huang Z.L., et al., 2024. Discrimination of internal crack for rice seeds using near infrared spectroscopy. Spectrochimica Acta, Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 319: 124578. 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124578
Yang S.L., Hui Y., Zhang X.S., et al., 2022. Research progress on the influence of wheat flour quality through moistening technology. Grain and Oil Food Science and Technology 30(06): 1–8. 10.16210/j.cnki.1007-7561.2022.06.001
Zhang C., Hu J.Y., Xu Q., et al., 2024. Mechanical properties and energy evolution mechanism of wheat grain under uniaxial compression. Journal of Stored Products Research 108: 102392. 10.1016/j.jspr.2024.102392
Zhao N., Li B.W., Fu N., et al., 2018. Influence of moisture content on physicomechanical properties, starch-protein microstructure and fractal parameter of oat groats. International Journal of Food Engineering 14(5–6): 20170365. 10.1515/ijfe-2017-0365
Zhou Y., Gao J., Hui Y.B., et al., 2024. Accurate modelling and fracture characteristics of wheat grains. Journal of Stored Products Research 105: 102249. 10.1016/j.jspr.2024.102249
Article Sidebar
Published
Jul 1, 2025
Article Details
Section
Original Article
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
