Determination of Some Physical Properties and Terminal Velocity of Locust Beans of Parkia Specie (Parkia Biglobosa) 105 SEP Vol. 10, 2015 Science and Engineering Perspectives SEP. Vol. 10, 2015 ISSN: 1115 – 8336 www. fscpolyibadan.org/journal © 2015 Faculty of Science, Polytechnic Ibadan, Nigeria Determination of Some Physical Properties and Terminal Velocity of Locust Beans of Parkia Specie (Parkia biglobosa) *Adewumi, I. O, Ijadunola J. A, Oladimeji, S.T and Kosemani, B. S Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria. *Corresponding author: adexio2010@gmail.com or adexio@yahoo.com, +2348023821869 Abstract Designing equipment and implements for handling and processing of biological materials requires the knowledge of physical and aerodynamic properties of such materials. However, the physical and aerodynamic properties studied in this research work as regards the seeds include; the axial dimensions, weight, sphericity, bulk density, porosity and terminal velocity. 100 seeds of locust beans were randomly selected for this research study. The range of properties determined are major diameter varied between 1.03mm to 1.35mm, intermediate diameter from 0.65mm to 0.75mm, while minor diameter also varied from 0.40mm to 0.68mm. The result analysis of this research work showed that the sphericity of the seed would rather roll than slide, this varied from 52.92% to 76.97%. The weight of the seed used also varied from 0.08g to 0.17g. The bulk densities of the seeds was found to vary from 0.8812g/ml 3 and 0.9166g/ml 3 .With an average particle density of 1.2607g/ml 3 ,the seed is unable to float in water and this makes separation from other materials by floatation in water slightly possible. The porosity of the seed was observed to varies from 0.1476 to 0.3944. The terminal velocity of the seeds showed that separation from associated undesirable materials like chaffs, straws and stalks is possible. Hence, it was found that the terminal velocity of locust bean varies between 13.35m/s and 15.07m/s. KEYWORDS: Locust beans, terminal velocity, engineering properties, aerodynamic properties INTRODUCTION Locust beans of parkia specie (parkia biglobosa) is an oil bean seed (bussea occidentalis Hiteh) which is very important seed grown in Southeast Nigeria. The oil bean seed is a perennial plant that matures within 3 – 4 years after planting. It has simple leaves on long stalks, the flower, and the pods with yellow powdery pulp surrounding the seed. The plant is a leguminous tree crop, which belongs to the family mimosoider. It is known as locust beans in English, “igba” in Yoruba, “Dorowa” in Hausa and “Ogiri-Igbala” in Ibo language of Nigeria. The plant produce thin walled hulls which are themselves arranged in a pod. The number and size of hulls vary from pod to pod. The hulls, when removed exposed the edible brownish cotyledon. Locust beans is edible for both human and animal and the oil obtained from it is primarily used for cooking. It can be processed to local yeast. In its