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

Abstract

The study determined the effects of the speed of loading and the loading orientation on some selected mechanical 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. The 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.