Utilisation of rheological models for describing the mechanical behaviour of oil palm empty fruit bunches under compression loading

Abstract

This study uses rheological models to describe the mechanical behaviour of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) under compression loading. The oil palm empty fruit bunches were obtained from North Sumatra, Indonesia. The rheological models for different fraction sizes of the mechanical behaviour under compression loading were developed based on a mathematical concept involving spring and dashpot components. The dependencies between fraction size, viscosity, and modulus elasticity were determined and mathematically described for each branch of the rheological model. The general rheological model was developed based on the defined dependencies, considering the deformation and fraction sizes. The determined rheological models and their components could be used as a fundamental building block of digital twins of oil palm empty fruit bunches, and they could be used to optimise the compressing technology and increase the efficiency of the entire pressing process.