Determine some engineering properties of snake melon (cucumis melo var. flexuosus)

Abstract

The physical and mechanical properties of agricultural products have an effective role in determining the quality of the products, reducing the potential damage caused by transportation and eventually designing the equipment used in the processing of the products. In this study, some physical and mechanical properties of snake melon were measured under standard conditions. Physical properties included length, width, thickness; mean diameter (geometric and arithmetic), sphericity, surface area, aspect ratio, mass, volume and density. The mechanical properties of the samples and their lengths were measured under the conditions of pressure (bruise), bending (break) and cutting of the snake melons in halves using a Zwick/Roell Instron testing machine based on the necessary standards and through three replications. Length, width, thickness, volume, surface area and density are some of the physical properties that are important considerations while designing a special machine or analyzing the consequences of transferring materials. In the investigation of the mechanical properties, the maximum forces required for pressure, bending and cutting of the snake melon were 309.66, 44.4 and 36.5 N, respectively. The results of this study can contribute to the design and optimization of the equipment used for processing, transportation, separation and packaging of the snake melon.