Determination of mechanical properties of sugar beet under quasi-static loading

Determining the mechanical properties of various agricultural products is necessary to analyze their behavior during transport, processing and precision design of machines to minimize waste. Therefore, in this study, the effect of mass at the levels of m> 500 and m≤ 500 g as well as the loading speed at the levels of 4.5, 7.5 and 10.5 mm/min on some mechanical properties of sugar beet such as rupture force, deformation at rupture point and rupture energy were examined. Then, for data analysis, factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design was used and the comparison of means was performed by Duncanchr)s multiple range test at α=1%. According to the results, the effect of loading speed on all mechanical properties was significant, but except for the rupture force, different mass levels did not have a significant effect on the deformation at rupture point and rupture energy. In this regard, the highest rupture force (72.3 N) in samples with mass of m>500 g and in the loading speed of 4.5 mm/min, but the lowest amount (42.4 N) in samples with mass of m≤500 g  and in the loading speed of 10.5 mm/min was measured. In this regard, the highest deformation at the rupture point (25.28 mm) in samples with mass of m > 500 g and in loading speed 4.5 mm/min and the lowest amount (16.4 mm) in samples with mass  m≤500 g  and in speed ‌Load 10.5 mm/ min was obtained. Also, the highest (82.1 mJ) and lowest (26.48 mJ) values of rupture energy were determined in samples with mass of m > 500 g and loading speeds of 4.5 and 10.5 mm/min, respectively.