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  Determination of physical and mechanical properties of agricultural products is the basis for designing or modification of processing equipments. Accordingly, in this research, some of physical and mechanical properties of two varieties of almond were investigated. The mean values of geometrical properties including; length, width, thickness, the geometric mean diameter, mass, volume, surface area and sphericity for Azar variety were 32.42, 21.74, 14.76, 21.80 mm, 4.157 gr, 2793 mm³, 1509 mm² and 67.49% and for Nonpareil were 29.71, 19.12, 12.99, 19.22 mm, 1.305 gr, 2442 mm³, 1168mm² and 63.80%, respectively. Also, properties such as ; true density and bulk density, frictional properties of Almond on the plain steel, galvanized steel and aluminum for the two varieties of Almond, that is, Azar and Nonpareil were measured. At the present research, also the mechanical properties such as maximum force, energy and power requirement to rupture of Almond nut, measured and assessed under compression loading between two parallel plates. The tests were carried out in three levels of size (small, medium and large), three loading speeds (10, 100 and 200 mm/min) and three loading axes (X, Y and Z) with 10 replications. The effect of three factors; size, speed, direction of loading and their interactions were measured for both varieties. Finally, the mean values of physical and mechanical properties both varieties were compared. The mean values of force, energy and power requirement to rupture of nut for Azar variety were 884.6 N, 447.3mJ, 0.681W and for Nonpareil were 56.2 N, 31.4 mJ, 0.045 W, respectively. The results showed that the mean values of mechanical properties of Azar variety were considerably more than that of Nonpareil variety. Also, it was revealed that the effect of size, speed and loading direction on mechanical properties was significant in both varieties.

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  The post-harvest physical and mechanical properties data of fruits and vegetables are important in adoption and design of various handling, packaging, storage and transportation systems. In this research some of physical and mechanical properties of two varieties of almond kernel were investigated. The mean values of geometrical properties including; length, width, thickness, the geometric mean diameter, weight, volume and sphericity for Azar variety were 21.01, 11.53, 5.31, 10.91 mm, 0.695 gr, 673.1 mm³  and 52.02% and for Nonpareil were 19.54, 10.96, 5.24, 10.38 mm, 0.570 gr, 547.9 mm³ and 53.27%, respectively. Also, properties such as ; particle density and bulk density, frictional properties of Almond kernel on the plain steel, galvanized steel and aluminum for the two varieties of Almond, that is, Azar and Nonpareil were measured. At present research, also by cutting loading tests, some of mechanical properties of almond kernel such as force, energy and power requirement for cutting of kernel were investigated. The tests were carried in three size levels (small, medium and large) and three loading speed (5, 50 and 100 mm/min) and three moisture levels (5, 15 and 25%) with 10 replication. The effect of three factors; size, speed, moisture and their multiple effects were measured for both varieties. Finally, the mean values of mechanical properties both varieties were compared. The mean force, energy and power requirement to cutting of kernel for Azar variety were 15.43N, 6.12mJ, 0.0058W and for Nonpareil were 17.03N, 8.19 mJ, 0.0071W, respectively.