Chute flow of soybeans

The steady flow of soybeans over a smooth aluminum surface and over a bumpy glass bead surface was studied High speed video was used to aid in analysi s of frictional and collisional flow and the transition between these regim es. The greatest discharge rate was observed during high velocity frictiona l flow. The highest velocity frictional flow occurred in the chute at slope s near the angle of friction between the surface and soybeans. The highest velocity frictional flow was observed at approximately 18 degrees for the s mooth (aluminum) surface and 20 degrees for the bumpy (glass bead) surface. Damage to the soybeans increased with increasing velocity over a given sur face. Also, more damage occurred in the collisional flow regime. The averag e mass percentage of damage was 2.2% for control soybeans that had not flow ed through the chute. The average mass percentage of damage was 3.4% for th e frictional flow regime and 4.2% for the collisional flow regime. The aver age germination rate far control soybeans that had not flowed through the c hute was 91.5%. The germination rate was 87.0% for the frictional flow regi me and 81.5% for the collisional flow regime.