Abstract

The study was undertaken to assess the mechanical properties including compressive and shearing strength of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) stalks for four varieties viz., Co- 99004,CoC-671,Co-85004 and Co-86032. The highest value of compressive strength (47.75 kN) at lower section was recorded for the variety Co-86032, whereas the lowest value (34 kN) was obtained with Co-85004. The maximum value of compressive strength for top section (49.25kN) was recorded with CoC-671 and the minimum (39.75 kN) for the variety Co-99004. Thecutting force required for shearing sugarcane stalk, ultimate cutting stress and specificshearing energy were determined at two sections for all the four varieties. It was observed that the maximum value of shearing force (1333.89 N) would be observed for the variety Co-85004 at lower section and it was (815.29 N) recorded for the variety CoC-671.The maximum value of ultimate cutting stress was (1.98 MPa) with Co-85004 at the lower section, while it was minimum (1.05 MPa) for the variety Co-99004. Similarly, the maximum value of specific shearing energy (39.68 mJ/mm2) was recorded for the variety Co-85004 for the lower section, while it was minimum (13.06 mJ/mm2) with CoC-671.

Keywords: Sugarcane, Cutting force, Ultimate cutting stress, Specific shearing energy.