Abstract
A study of the microstructure and mechanical properties of Macadamia nutshells subjected to various heat treatments is given in Part 2 of this paper. It is found that the nutshell has a three-dimensional, close-packed, cell structure. The cells have a diameter to length ratio of about 1 to 3, and the orientation of the cells is reasonably isotropic with no apparent variation with either position or direction. The material behaves in a very brittle manner under tension and compression. Based on the elastic stress analysis of a nut under diametrical compression and the mechanical properties of the shell, it is shown that cracks that cause the final fracture are initiated from the inner surface beneath the loading point. A theoretical model is proposed and predictions of the fracture load for Macadamia nuts are in good agreement with experimental results.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Y. Sarig, F. Grosz and S. Rasis, Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 25 (1980) 367–374.
J.S. Jennings and N.H. Macmillan, Journal of Materials Science 21 (1986) 1517–1524.
J.F.V. Vincent, “Nuts”, presented at Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, USA (1992).
L.J. Gibson and M.F. Ashby, Cellular Solids, Structure and Properties, Pergamon Press, Oxford (1988).
J.F.V. Vincent, Structural Biomaterials, rev. edn., Princeton University Press, New Jersey (1990).
R.J. Roark and W.C. Young, Formulas for Stress and Strain, 5th edn., McGraw-Hill, New York (1975).
C.H. Wang, L.C. Zhang and Y.-W. Mai, International Journal of Fracture 69 (1994/1995) 51–65.
Y. Murakami (ed.), Stress Intensity HandBook, Pergamom Press (1987).
G. Jeronimidis, in The Mechanical Properties of Biological Materials, J.F. Vincent and J.D. Currey (eds.), Cambridge University Press (1980) 169–182.
E. Reissner, Journal of Mathematics and Physics 25 (1945) 80–88; 279–300.
D.P. Updike and A. Kalnins, Journal of Applied Mechanics 37 (1970) 635–640.
D.P. Updike and A. Kalnins, Journal of Applied Mechanics 39 (1972) 1110–1114.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, CH., Mai, YW. Deformation and fracture of Macadamia nuts. Int J Fract 69, 67–85 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00032189
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00032189