Nonlinear FEM based high-speed shell shattering simulation for shelled edible agricultural products: Pecan fruit shattering

This paper introduces an advanced engineering simulation procedure for the nonlinear finite element method (FEM) based high-speed shattering case of shelled edible agricultural products. A high-speed impactor which is targeted at the Pecan fruit (kernel-in-shell) was considered in this case study. Physical compression tests were conducted on Pecan fruit specimens and experimental deformation characteristics were utilized to describe realistic material models in the FEM based engineering simulation. Subsequently, a reverse engineering approach was employed in the solid modeling stage and the Pecan shell shattering case under high-speed loading was simulated, considering the explicit dynamics approach. The effect of the high loading rate on the deformation characteristics of the Pecan fruit components was observed. Visual outputs from the simulation revealed the shattering behavior of the Pecan fruit components under defined boundary conditions. In addition to useful visual simulation outputs, time-dependant stress distributions on the Pecan fruit under high-speed loading rates were represented using graphs. Simulation results have revealed that maximum equivalent stress values were 7.1 (MPa), 5.1 (MPa), and 0.336 (MPa) for shell, packing material, and kernel, respectively. Maximum reaction force at impact was calculated as 996,000 (N). This work contributes to further research into the use of nonlinear numerical method based high-speed deformation simulation studies for shelled edible agricultural products. Practical applicationAs the industry relevance, useful deformation visuals and numerical findings related to impact shattering case of the Pecan fruit have been exhibited and the findings have been presented in a form which may be used as input parameters in design studies of shelled agricultural product processing machinery systems used in related industry.