Some Mechanical Properties of Sugarcane at Different Sizes and Loadings Relevant to Design and Construction of Sugarcane Juice Extractor

Abstract

This study evaluated the mechanical properties of two varieties of sugarcane; Saccharumofficinarum and Saccharumbarberi. Some mechanical properties (rupture force, rupture energy, bio-yield force, bio-yield energy and deformation at horizontal and vertical loading direction) were investigated using a Universal testing machine. Sugarcane is an economically important grass that is rich in calcium, chromium, cobalt and other health supportive substances. The stress undergone by the teeth while chewing sugarcane to obtain the juice content in addition to the inherent postharvest losseshas necessitated the study of its mechanical properties to enhance effective mechanization of its processing and handling.At sugarcane sizes (diameter) from 33-40,