Determination of Some Engineering Properties of Kumquat Related to Design Parameters

Abstract

The production of kumquat from the genus Fortunella of Rutaceae family is gradually increasing in South of Turkey. In this study, it is aimed to determine some mechanical properties of the kumquat for the design of the machines to be used harvesting and postharvest. The some mechanical properties of the kumquat grown in the Bati Akdeniz Agricultural Research institute were determined with the help of the texture analyzer device. Mechanical properties such as the elasticity modulus, puncture force, deformation, hardness, Poisson rate, stress and energy in puncture force have been determined. The tests were carried out in three harvest time (optimum harvest time, before and after 10 days from optimum harvest time). Published benchmark data that was generally statistically different will be useful to engineers to new equipment design for different kumquat varieties. These differences that founded can be attributed to environmental and growth conditions.