Abstract

In this study, the textural mechanics of strawberry tissues were analyzed using a uniaxial compression test at six temperature? levels,? and? a? dynamic? finite? element? model? of? the? strawberry? drop? system? was? developed? to investigate the collision-damage sensitivity of the fruit. The strawberry geometric model included two parts of the receptacle: the cortex and the pith. The fruit finite element model with average tissue mechanical data was found? to? be? capable? of? reproducing? four? key? collision? mechanical? parameters? (maximum? impact? force? and contact area, drop damage area, percentage of damage volume) with an average relative error of 1.76%, 8.45%, 2.99% and 4.74%, respectively. Five covariance analysis models also showed that the drop direction was the most important factor affecting the occurrence of the fruit drop damage, followed by fruit temperature and drop height. Specifically, in a low temperature range (1 ~ 7 ?C), the fruit collision damage degree did not change significantly with temperature change, but when the temperature was between 14 ?C and 35 ?C, the damage area and percentage of damage volume increased by 0.82 mm2 and 0.06%, respectively, for every 1 ?C increase in temperature. Furthermore, it was found that there is a strong linear correlation between internal and surface damage in the strawberry fruit, and the obtained mathematical models can be utilized to predict the internal damage? degree? of? fruit? based? on? the? surface? damage? area.? This? study? incorporated? dynamic? finite? element technology? with? statistical? analysis? to? provide? a? systematic? approach? for? investigating? the? collision-damage sensitivity of fresh fruit in relation to fruit temperature.? ?