Deformation of Peaches Submitted to Cyclic Loading Using the Discrete Element Method

Abstract

This study aimed to use and validate a simple contact force model that describes the behavior of peaches stored in a wooden box, loaded cyclically, by using the discrete element method. The Kelvin-Voigt contact force model was used and the cyclic loading in the simulation was performed with an amplitude of 1 mm and frequency of 12 Hz for time intervals of 3600, 5400, and 7200 s. The laboratory test was performed with a peach box attached to a vibrating table by applying the same excitation conditions used in the simulation. For validation, model results were compared with those from the laboratory test by using deformation values of fruits in the contact regions. To measure this deformation, we adapted the methodology for determining the radius of curvature. The Kelvin-Voigt linear contact model, despite its simplicity in representing the viscoelastic behavior, adequately estimated the final deformation in peaches submitted to cyclic loading.