Determination of Some Physical Properties of Immature Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus) Pods

Abstract

Some physical properties of immature Runner beans pods (Phaseolus coccineus) were investigated with the aim of using the properties to develop efficient processing machines for the crop. The investigations were done using a digital weighing balance, Vernier calipers and an inclined plane. The results of the investigations showed that the immature pods have moisture content of 89.5%wb, geometric mean diameter of 10.5 mm, the sphericity as 0.45 and the coefficient of friction of the pods on three different surfaces are, plane wood (0.76), stainless sheet (0.84) and glass (0.63), while the bulk density was obtained as 0.77g/cm3.The pods are likely to slide more on a stainless steel hopper during processing than in any other material tested.