Determination of Engineering Properties and Mechanical Properties of Drumstick Pod (Moringa oleifera): An Experimental Study

Abstract

The lack of sufficient knowledge about the physical and mechanical properties of agricultural products often leads to higher postharvest losses. Given the importance of the drumstick pod (Moringa oleifera) and the limited information available on its engineering characteristics, this study was conducted to bridge this gap. The research aimed to determine the physical and mechanical properties of drumstick pods to aid in the design and optimization of harvest and postharvest machinery. The engineering properties evaluated included length, width, thickness, arithmetic and geometric mean diameters, mass, sphericity, surface area, and aspect ratio. Mechanical characterization was performed using a Texture Analyzer testing machine following standard procedures to measure the cutting strength of drumstick pod halves of varying lengths. The mean values obtained for geometric mean diameter, surface area, and sphericity were 14.28 mm, 1.186 mm², and 0.45%, respectively. The maximum force required for cutting the drumstick pod was 200.43 N. The results on the engineering and mechanical properties of the drumstick pod provide valuable data for designing harvesting and peeling machine for drumstick pod to reducing post-harvest waste and supporting the mechanization in food processing industry.