MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF SELECTED ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF POMEGRANATE FRUITS (PUNICA GRANATUM L) CV. GANESH

The mathematical modelling is used to predict some of the models along with their engineering properties of pomegranate fruits. The effects of engineering properties, which are important for designing of post-harvest handling and processing machineries. The moisture content of the pomegranate cv. Ganesh at wet basis was found to be arils (83%), peels (76%), and whole fruit (80%). With respected moisture content dimensional properties was like major (length), intermediate (width), minor (Thickness) diameter, geometric and arithmetic mean diameter, sphericity, Surface and projected area, weight, volume (oblate and ellipsoid shape), flakiness and elongation ratio of pomegranate cv. Ganesh were found to be 79.56 mm, 76.08 mm, 76.18 mm, 77.22 mm, 77.27 mm, 0.97, 188.67 cm2 and 60.90 cm2, 253.65 g, 246.69 cm3 and 469.86 cm3, 1.00 and 1.05 respectively. The gravimetric properties of pomegranate like Bulk density, true density, porosity and angle of repose was observed the average values of 554 kg/m3, 1030 kg/m3, 46.77%, 49° respectively. The frictional properties like coefficient of friction, rolling angle and rolling resistance were the mean values for different surfaces like mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, galvanised, rubber and card board was investigated. The mechanical property like firmness of the fruit was found to be 16.4 kg/cm2. The frequency distribution of the major, geometric mean diameter and the fruit mass/weight followed by normal distribution of Gaussian model. The maximum number of fruits were frequency distributed with the major (75-85 mm), intermediate (72.5-82.5 mm), and weight of the fruits (200-300 grams). The different mathematical models like linear, logarithmic, exponential, polynomial and power models used with some engineering properties and their result showed the best suitable mass models, which can predict the mass of pomegranate based on the estimated surface area of the pomegranate cv. Ganesh. The higher regression coefficient of best model R2=0.93 and the corresponding equation M= 71.667e0.0065Sa