Experimental method for determination of the pressure distribution in granular solids

Abstract

This paper presents two methods of determination of pressure distribution in rape seeds. The study utilized hydraulic pressure sensors with active rubber face and stress state transducer with six duralumin face sensors. This project utilized methodology well known from soil mechanics for determination stress in plant granular material. The hydraulic pressure sensors has been design to measure normal pressure in granular material. The stress transducer has been designed to measure pressure in six different directions, which orientation enable to calculate the stress state from the pressure measurements. The project enclose to design calibrations procedure. Calibration of each of sensors of stress transducer was performed both under air pressure and inside the bedding of rapeseeds. The preliminary tests of both pressure sensors developed for the direct in-bulk measurement within granular material allowed to determinations pressure distribution in granular materials. Experiments were performed inside bedding of rapeseeds of 6% moisture content.