A Study of Physical and Mechanical Properties of the Indian Coconut for Efficient Dehusking

Coconut is a widely used fruit with soft flesh used for eating and its husk used as natural fiber. Husking is an important process in coconut processing and coir manufacturing which should be done with minimum effort. In an attempt to optimize the effort and productivity relationship, the physical and mechanical properties of local varieties of Indian coconuts are investigated. A sample of 70 coconuts are taken from coconut palms in Kerala, India, and divided into two groups of 35 each, dry and green coconuts. Its physical properties (size, weight, husk thickness, moisture content, and shell diameter) and mechanical properties (husk-separating force and shell-breaking force) are measured and the relationship between them is investigated. The results show that high dependence of mechanical properties exists on the physical properties of the coconut