Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

It is essential obtain adequate data on the physical and mechanical properties of a crop to reduce crop loss
and maintain the quality of crops at and after harvest and to design and optimize machines for post-harvest
processing. In this investigation, the physical and mechanical properties of nectarines (var. Independence)
from the Takestan region of Qazvin province were studied. The largest diameter (61 mm); mean diameter
(59 mm); smallest diameter (57 mm); mass (97.74 g); volume (1123.17 cm); density (0.99 g/N); geometric
mean diameter (59.10 mm); surface area (102/30 cm2); and sphericity coefficient (97%). The chemical
properties showed acidity for Independence nectarines to be 1.3% and sugar to be 11%, making it tart. The
coefficient of friction for multi-layer materials (wood, aluminum, galvanized sheet metal) showed a static
friction coefficient varying from 0.321 for an aluminum surface to 0.389 for a wood surface layer. In
addition, the break force was 58.9 N, deformation was 10 mm, and fracture energy at break point 0.3 J and
1.34 kJm-3.

Keywords

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