In this paper, a novel control-loop concept is presented to investigate the viscoelastic properties of different pome fruits. Repeated mechanical effects are one of the most important risk factors during the postharvest procedures, so our work aimed to expand knowledge in the field. The actual investigations involved Golden Delicious apples and Packham pears. The developed model is based on the Poynting–Thomson body and, during the validating dynamic creep tests, different repeated compressive loads were applied. The examined frequencies were chosen from the most common components of the frequency distribution during the transportation process; the given range is responsible for the highest volume of fruit damage and the most extensive losses. The identified mathematical system determines the viscoelastic model parameters with the best fit to the measured creep data. The model properties of the tested fruit textures are compared in six different frequency setups, with the inspected pome species showing different elastic and viscous responses for the adjusted load conditions. The custom testing device with variable load functions and the proposed solution allow system identification with a wide range of setup possibilities. The resulted viscoelastic parameters can be used for further failure analysis and for the comparison of different pome fruit materials.

Biodegradables are a promising path for the future of electronics in a greener mindset. The review study focuses on their applications and past and current research results. The paper also investigates the application of nanomaterials as fillers to control or increase the physical (electrical, mechanical, thermal) properties of biodegradable biopolymers. These biodegradables and nanocomposites are already effectively used in prototypes and advanced application areas with demanding requirements, such as flexible and wearable electronics, implantable or biomedical applications, and traditional commercial electronics. The nanoenhanced biopolymer substrates (e.g., with improved gas and water barrier functionalities) sometimes also with integrated, nanoenabled functionalities (such as electromagnetic shielding or plasmonic activity) can be beneficial in many electronics packaging and nanopackaging applications as well.

In this paper, the multiple linear regression model of mechanical properties related to the failure mechanism of apple tissue under repeated compressive load was investigated. More refined failure characteristics may lead to improved processing and logistics aspects of the given fruits. For our study, the following failure-related factors are considered during the cyclic measurements of Golden Delicious apples: the viscoelastic parameters, the dissipated energy, and the rupture point of the cell-structure, which is described with the time to failure parameter (TTF). For the determination of viscoelastic components, the three element Poynting-Thomson body was applied, and a closed-loop control system is identified with the measured creep data. From the hysteresis loop – in each cycle of the force-deformation parametric curve – the dissipated energy can be calculated with a numeric integration method. The rupture point of the fruit tissue – where the measuring pin is breaking through the peel and the cortex – is observed with a high-framerate video analysis, so that the time index of the failure point can be evaluated. The focus is to define the influence of the mentioned factors to the TTF parameter of the examined fruit material. During the statistical evaluation of the resulted data, the failure of time can be successfully determined with a multiple lienar regression model of the determined viscoelastic and dissipated energy variables. With the resulted equation, the failure time of Golden Delicious apples can be predicted based on the measured failure-related parameters obtained during the compressive load tests.

There are different limit values of mechanical effects causing bruise or failure of fruits during the variety of processes: the allowable drop height (fruit harvesting), the static load of fruit column at storage bin, or maximal vibration acceleration while transporting. To reproduce each forces from manipulation, different measuring devices have to be employed. Using the DyMaTest instrument, we can analyze the failure mechanism of fruits producing various load-functions: constant, linear or cyclic waveforms. With a developed measuring method, we have the opportunity to determine the fruit's failure parameters, and compare the deformation graphs using different compressive loads.

This work aims to estimate the shelf life of Golden Delicious apple fruit stored at room temperature by determining the changing trend in color every week using a non-destructive measurement method. Moreover, the study will measure the changes in weight loss (Δm) and the total soluble solids (TSS) contained in the apple. The research focuses on the last stage of ripening and the effect of shelf life affecting consumer behavior; therefore, the examined fruits were picked at the end of the season and were stored at an ambient temperature and in controlled laboratory conditions for six weeks, at 24 °C under 60% RH relative. Color measurements were performed with a portable color sensor, which provided a simple and effective examination method in the case of an appropriate number of fruit samples. The findings showed a significant increase in TSS and weight loss over time. Color varying (ΔE) and chroma (C*) parameters increased with prolonged storage duration, meaning that the color of the apples became darker and more color-saturated at the end of storage. While weight loss and TSS follow a linear tendency in the given storage period, the color changes in deteriorating fruits were characterized by exponential asymptotic regression. It was found that although the moisture content reaches its limit value during the drying process of apples, the saturation of color coordinates allows for determination of the limit parameters of consumption in the linear stage of weight loss. The saturation limits (70.97; 12.77; 56.34 CIELAB L*; a*; b*), the dominant color part (b*), and the growth rate of the saturation curves allow an accurate characterization of ripening from the visual aspect, thus determining the limit parameters of shelf life and improving the critical analysis factors affecting the life of fruits after harvest. By assessing color characteristics using a non-destructive technology, customers may quickly evaluate the quality of apples and make better decisions during their purchase.