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Abstract.

Nuts from F₁ hybrid hazelnuts grown in Wisconsin were harvested and dried to seven different moisture contents. Nut dimensions and mass were recorded. Nuts were then subjected to uniaxial compression to determine total deformation required for rupture, rupture force, and rupture energy for each of the three major nut axes. Kernel dimensions, shell thickness, shell mass, and kernel mass of each nut were recorded after rupture. Hybrid hazelnuts and kernels were found to be smaller than European varieties. Nut geometry was found to change with nut size. Loading along the X-axis required the lowest rupture force, rupture energy, and rupture strain of all loading axes. Rupture force, rupture energy, and stiffness were shown to be highly correlated with moisture content. At lower moisture contents, shells fractured into more pieces.