Slip-stick Frictional Behavior of Wheat on Galvanized Steel

Test blades of galvanized steel were pulled through wheat to study the frictional behavior between wheat and the blades. The effects of wear and dust accumulation on wheat grains were studied by pulling three blades through grain samples which had been conveyed in repeated cycles in mass flow and bucket conveyors. The test blades were pulled at a velocity of 0.05 mm/min and at overbearing grain pressures of 3.9, 6.6, 9.2, and 11.8 kPa. No statistically significant influences (a = 5%) of grain wear or overbearing pressure were found on the coefficient of friction between wheat and galvanized steel. Slip-stick behavior was observed in all of the tests of the effects of wear on wheat grains.