Failure of Biomaterials Subjected to Temperature and Moisture Gradients Using the Finite Element Method: II - Stress Analysis of an Isotropic Sphere during Drying

ABSTRACT THE finite element technique for studying failure of spherical biological products experiencing temperature and moisture changes during the drying process is presented. The formulation is applied to simulate thermo-hydro stresses in a soybean kernel. Tangential stress changed from compressive to tensile from the center to the surface along a radius. Stresses reached peak values at the surface in one hour and decayed slowly. The magnitude of the peak tangential stress is directly proportional to the temperature and the time to reach the peak value is independent of the drying temperature.