Some physical and mechanical properties of three varieties of rice namely; Akitakomachi (short grain), Delta
and L201 (long grain) were determined and used in the performance analysis of an impeller husker. Grain
motion on the blade was observed at the rated impeller speed of 2362 min~1 using a high-speed camera. The
grain exit velocity resulted in an impact force above the yield force of the husk but below the yield force of
the grain. However, the maximum friction force experienced on the blade was far below the yield shear force of
the husk for all three varieties of rice. Husking tests were performed at different impeller speeds using a hard
urethane liner, a soft polystyrene liner and without a liner. Type of liner significantly affected the husking
performance. Short-grain rice had high husking energy capacity and cracked grain ratio, but a low broken grain
ratio compared with long-grain rice. Performance curves for the three varieties of rice were well expressed by the
Weibull's distribution function.