Abstract
This paper investigates the protection afforded to apples in 3 different types of packages subjected to falling impacts. Telescopic fibreboard tray packs, plastic returnable crates and sturdy wooden boxes with varying pack-tightness were dropped from 0.5 m onto a solid concrete floor and the total bruise volume and distribution of bruising was assessed. In each case, the amount of energy absorbed was calculated from measured bruise resistance, ml J −1. Tray packs gave the best protection with 15% of the impact energy absorbed by the fruit, followed by returnable crates with 50%, and then wooden boxes which varied from 66 to 100%. The distribution of bruising in the various layers of the packs was found to be independent of pack type. In these 5-layer packs, the average percentage of total bruising was 6 (top layer), 16, 21, 23 and 34 (bottom layer). An analysis of the energy absorbing characteristics of the tray pack cartons showed that the trays accounted for most of the energy absorption during impact. It is the stretching of the trays in 2 horizontal directions rather than tray compression at contact points that dissipates the energy.
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