Applying fuzzy logic to develop an expert system for determination of the physical properties of green pea

Abstract

The physical properties of agricultural crops play an important role during harvesting, sorting, cleaning and designing the related machinery. In this study, some physical properties of green pea were studiedincluding geometrical properties (length, width, thickness, arithmetic and geometric mean diameter, equivalent diameter, surface and projected area, volume and sphericity), gravimetrical properties (Mass of 1000 seed, true and bulk density and porosity) and frictional properties (filling and emptying angle of repose) in the moisture content range of 10 to 32.5% (wet basis). A fuzzy logic model was developed which could predict the mentioned physical properties using moisture content as the only input variable. In order to determine the fuzzy rules, six membership functions (very low (8-12), low (12.5-16.5), medium (17-21) high (21.5-25.5), very high (26-30) and very very high (30.5-34.5)) were considered for the input variable. The designed system was capable of accurate predicting of the physical properties at any desired moisture content in the range of 10 to 32.5% moisture content.