DAMPING CAPACITY OF BULK WHEAT
Results of resonant column tests on 23 specimens of bulk wheat, showing effects of strain amplitude, confining 
stress, wheat type (hard and soft red winter 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 primary 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 staged testing procedures. Staged testing is desirable because it 
allows measurement of damping versus strain and damping versus shear modulus relationships for several different stress 
levels using a single specimen.