A mathematical model of cocoa pod deformation based on hertz theory
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| Authors: | M. Faborode1, R. Dinrifo1 1Department of Agricultural Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria |
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| Abstract : | Abstract. A mathematical model based on Hertz's theory of contact stress was developed for the analysis of cocoa pod deformation when subjected to a uni-axial compressive stress, in its lateral axis, between rigid parallel plates. A two-sample t-test comparison of the experimentally measured values of the stiffness modulus and those obtained from the initial Hertz theory equations indicated a very significant difference, which was observed to be due to the irregular shape of the pod, its furrowed circumference and internal hollow-ness, contrary to some basic assumptions of the theory. Correcting factors developed to account for these irregularities significantly improved the predictions of the modified Hertz relation. The shape factor, which ex-pressed the deviation of the material from a true ellipsoid in terms of the material contact area with the loading plate, was found to be the most critical correction factor in terms of which a combined correction factor could be expressed to simplify necessary computations. |
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| Keywords : | Hertz theory, cocoa pod, agricproduct deformation, mechanical property | ||||||||
| Language : | English | ||||||||