Modeling of carrot root radial press process for different shapes of loading elements using the finite element method

Abstract

Biological material is exposed to different type loads during the harvesting, sorting, and transport. The contact with the hard element of the box or the harvester causes damage to the internal structure. Long-term static loads and hitting by another carrot root are the most common type of mechanical damage occurring in the post-harvest process. Because of the characteristic shape of agricultural products, compression force focused on a small area. The main purpose of this study was to determine the discrete model of carrot root as well as to verify it based on the displacement distribution. For determining an experimental model, the collected data were statistically processed. To verify the obtained model, the COSMOS/M software was applied. As a result of this study, a calculation model was presented, which allowed the assessment of surface pressures on the carrot root area, which occurred during the contact with different shaped elements in selected phases of technology process.