Measurement of Dynamic Compressive Properties of Apples using the Oscillatory Test

Purpose: This study performed the oscillatory test using the texture analyzer to characterize the viscoelastic behavior of apples such as the storage modulus (E'), the loss modulus (E"), the complex modulus (${\mid}E^*{\mid}$) and the energy dissipated per cycle ($W_{diss}$). Methods: The sinusoidal deformation with the frequency of 1-10 Hz and the maximum displacement of 0.1 mm were applied to the flesh tissues of Fuji, Golden Delicious and Red Delicious apples. The Lissajous figure was used to measure the phase angle(${\delta}$) between stress and strain curve. Results: Trigger force was critical to the measurement of the phase angle. E', E", ${\mid}E^*{\mid}$ and Wdiss were measured using the Lissajous figure and the phase angle. The complex modulus of Golden Delicious apple was significantly lower than those of Fuji apple and Red Delicious apple. Conclusions: Apple flesh was exhibiting more elasticity at low frequency, and more viscosity at high frequency. Dynamic compressive properties of Fuji apple were similar to those of Red Delicious apple but significantly different from those of Golden Delicious apple.