A study on the influence of the loading rate and orientation on some mechanical properties of cassava tubers of different ages

Abstract

estudy determined theeffects ofthe speed ofloading and theloading orientation on some selected me-chanical properties ofthe TME 419 cassava tuber variety atdifferent ages ofthe tuber which are essential inthe design and construction of the processing and handling equipment of a cassava peeler. eproperties considered include thebioyield and rupture points, compressive and rupture strengths, toughness and firmness, and moduli ofstiffness and toughness, which were carried out inthe transverse and longitudinal loading direction using anInstron Universal Testing Machine (UTM). Asthe loading rate increased from 5.00 to10.00mm·min–1 and theage ofthe tuber varies from 1.00 to2.00 years, the bioyield and rupture points, compressive and rupture strengths, toughness, firmness, moduli ofstiffness and toughness inthe transverse and longitudinal direction varies from 1 619.61 to3 636.19 N and 136.08to 384.52N, 0.48066 to1.07913 N·mm–2 and 0.26604 to0.75173 N·mm–2, 766 to1 055 N·mm–1 and 1262 to2965 N·mm–1, 303.98 to553.68mm·min–1 and 28.08 to53.71mm·min–1 2.30 to4.19 N·mm–2 and 5.376 to8.94 N·mm–2 respectively. Generally, thevalues ofthe properties examined are higher inthe longitudinal loading orientation than inthe transverse and fora year and half old tuber which will be useful indesigning anefficient cassava peeling system.