Compressive failure patterns of some juicy fruits.
Peleg M., Gomez B. L., Malevski Y.
Author Affiliation: Massachusetts University, Amherst, MA 01002, USA.
Journal of Food Science 41 : 1320-1324
Abstract : Compressive tests of specimens of mangoes, melons, pawpaws, pineapples and watermelons were performed using an Instron Universal Testing Machine. The compressive failure occurred in various patterns which were characteristic of the different types of fruits. The failure patterns themselves tended to change as ripeness progressed. For most fruits as ripeness progressed the shape of the force-deformation curve changed showing smaller deformation prior to failure. The apparent strength of the specimens, calculated on the basis of the original cross-sectional area, was a function of its diameter; the latter, in the case of watermelons, could also affect the general shape of the force-deformation curve.