Determinación experimental de propiedades físico-mecánicas de la caña de azúcar para su procesamiento en picadoras de forraje Experimental determination of physic- mechanics properties of the sugar cane for their prosecution in forage shopper

In the context of a research directed to the improvement of forage choppers design, a group of physical- mechanical properties of C323-68 and C8751 varieties of sugar cane was determined. Both varieties are used in Cuba like forage for animal feeding. These properties constitute indispensable data for evaluation of physical-mathematical models that facilitate to calculate the main design and operational parameters of forage choppers. The properties objects of determination were: the traverse and longitudinal dimensions of the plant; the mass of the plant and their component parts; the specific mass and the dynamic and static frictional angles of the stalks with regard to steel. As a result of the investigation, the main statistical indicators that characterize the variability of those properties in both varieties were determined.