Experimental study on collision acceleration and damage characteristics of potato

Abstract

AbstractTo reveal the mechanism of potato mechanical damage, this article investigated the relationships between the collision characteristics of potato and various impact parameters using potato impact test rig and acceleration acquisition system. It was noted that the potato impact test rig and acceleration acquisition system allowed simultaneously analysis of the three indexes: maximum acceleration, minimum acceleration, and damaged area. In the experiments, the collision damaged area of potato increased with the enlarged tuber mass but decreased with the elevated temperature of potato tuber. In addition, the damaged area was the smallest during potato colliding with 65Mn‐Rubber (10 mm diameter 65Mn steel rod wrapped in 2 mm rubber) compared with other two materials. With the increment of collision initial height, the maximum acceleration and damaged area increased, but the minimum acceleration changed on the basis of opposite trend. Under the experimental factor of collision initial height, the indexes of maximum acceleration and minimum acceleration were strongly correlated with damaged area of potato. That could be used to predict collision effects. Finally, the predicted mathematical model between the average value of maximum acceleration, minimum acceleration and damaged area were established as follows: S = 0.9622amax‐433.25 (R2 = 0.9601), S = −3.9587amin + 58.658 (R2 = 0.8152).Practical applicationCurrently, there are few studies for the collision between fresh potato and rod. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of collision parameters on collision acceleration and damaged area during fresh potato colliding rod. That becomes very important for the design and development of potato processing machinery, especially harvesting machinery. To accurately predict the damage in the phase of harvesting and postharvest processes, the correlation analysis between initial height, tuber mass, tuber temperature, impact material, maximum and minimum acceleration, and damaged area are, respectively, discussed. Meantime, the corresponding mathematical models of significant parameters and damaged area are well established.