Modelling Rupture Force based on Physical Properties – a Case Study for Roma Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Fruits

Authors

  • Mohammadbagher Lak PhD Candidate, Biosystems Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University
  • Saeid Minaei Professor, Biosystems Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University
  • Saeid Soufizadeh Assistant Professor, Department of Agroecology, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, General Campus, Tehran, Iran.
  • Ahmad Banakar Associate Professor, Biosystems Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University

Keywords:

correlation, elasticity, geometry, mechanical properties, rupture

Abstract

Biophysical properties of agricultural materials are important in designing of processing machines. In this study, some physical properties of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits were determined and their mutual relationships were studied. Dimensions (major diameter, minor diameter, and length), mass, volume, fresh and dry matter weight, as well as rupture point under uniaxial loading were measured. Other properties; including Poisson's ratio, modulus of elasticity, energy for rupture, density, arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter, diameter of equivalent volume sphere, and sphericity were calculated accordingly. Statistical analysis of the data indicated significant correlations between the rupture force and fresh weight, volume, dry weight, major diameter, minor diameter, arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter, and diameter of equivalent volume sphere. Fruit volume has significant correlations with fresh weight and average diameter. Correlations between major and minor diameters are very significant in this variety. Finally, regression equations were developed to model tomato biophysical properties.

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Published

2018-12-26

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 3 (2018): CIGR Journal

Section

VI-Postharvest Technology and Process Engineering