Damping capacity of bulk wheat

Results of resonant column tests on 23 specimens of bulk wheat, showing eff ects of strain amplitude, confining stress, wheat type (hard and soft red w inter wheat), wheat density, and moisture content on wheat damping capacity are presented, along with models relating damping capacity to shear strain amplitude and to corresponding shear stiffness. Damping capacity is a prim ary property of bulk wheat needed to compute the seismic response of metal bins filled with wheat. Test results are presented to validate the use of s taged testing procedures. Staged testing is desirable because it allows mea surement of damping versus strain and damping versus shear modulus relation ships for several different stress levels using a single specimen.