Abstract
Mechanical properties of corn stover grind are important because of the need for accurate input data in the mathematical modeling of densification process and the design of densification equipment. Mechanical properties of corn stover grind such as particle size distribution, bulk and particle densities, compressibility, particle stiffness, wall friction and adhesion on steel surface were determined with two hammer mill screen sizes (3.18 and 6.35 mm) used in grinding at three different moisture contents (7, 11, 15% w.b). Compression test was conducted for each combination of hammer mill screen size and moisture content to establish pressure-density data at different applied pressures. Mechanical properties such as compressibility, initial bulk modulus, porosity index and particle stiffness were determined from a pressure-density data. Shear test was conducted to determine the coefficient of friction between the steel plate and corn stover grind at different moisture content and normal pressure.