Selected Physical, Mechanical and Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Commercial Iranian Pomegranate Varieties

Physical, mechanical and hydrodynamic properties were determined on three superior pomegranate varieties (Abanmahi, Malas and Shahvar), which were selected from primary morphological screening of 02 varieties in Yazd city, Iran. The physical and mechanical properties of the studied varieties such as dimensions, the geometric mean diameter, surface area, volume, projected area, sphericity, mass, bulk and true densities, porosity, and, rupture force and energy were investigated experimentally. Results showed that the effect of variety on the most physical properties of the pomegranate varieties was significant. Deformation values were not influenced by loading orientation. The Malas variety under the X-axes loading direction had the lowest the force and energy for initial fruit rupture. Moreover, the terminal velocity and dropping time values varied from 2115 to 2111ms-1 and 7171 to 1101s, respectively (p>2125). It was found that, the difference of drag (1152-0121N) and buoyancy (0120-0113N) force values among all varieties was significant

Keywords:

pomegranate fruit , engineering properties , physical properties , hydro-sorting , terminal velocity