Drop test simulation of a sample tomato with finite element

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate deformation behaviour of a biological material upon crashing. The SO samples for the study were randomly selected from harvested tomatoes. RESULT: Mechanical parameters were obtained by a compression test of the chosen cherry tomato samples. The behaviour of the drop characteristics of cherry tomato was investigated using finite element simulation, and deformation characteristics were determined by a combination of the finite element results and measured data. A comparison between experimental data and finite element simulation shows that the two sets of results agree well. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide the foundation for further investigations of the mechanical parameters of fruits and vegetables by using finite element simulations. (c) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.