Taking the hemispherical chestnut as the study object, a finite element model for the mechanical properties of vacuum shelling chestnut was established by applying the finite element method and transport-process theory. The simulation and experimental results indicated that the finite element model could explain the mechanical properties of vacuum shelling chestnut well. The moisture distribution of chestnut shell was higher in the bottom center area and lower in the shell edge. The value of stress and strain was decreasing from the shell edge to the bottom center and arc peak. The wet stress played an important role in the vacuum shelling process, and was about five times larger than the pressure difference stresses in the initial and middle stage, but the wet stress decreased gradually at the end of the shelling process. The vacuum degree had a great effect on the vacuum shelling process, and the increasing vacuum degree did not only increase the pressure difference stresses but also the wet stresses.