Acoustic response
Ultrasonic transmission
Acoustic response
study of acoustic response deals mainly
with the transmission of mechanical
waves ( sound waves or vibrations)
through a medium, such as a fruit or
vegetable
as the wave travels through the sample,
it encounters tissue boundaries (
interfaces between bruised and
undamaged tissues) that affect its
characteristics
Methods of Measurement
Impact devices
a small pendulum, or spring- loaded device is
used to generate a small non- destructive
impact on one face of a sample
a microphone located at the opposite face
gathers the sound of the impact passing
through the sample, the same which is
recorded into a computer for analysis of the
waveform with respect to the quality
parameter being studied.
Methods of Measurement
Resonant frequency
Finney and Norris (1968) used a
speaker driver from a stereo as a
source of vibration
The driver was placed under a
sample, while a sensor placed on top
measured the acceleration produced
by vibrations traveling through the
sample
Methods of Measurement
Impact rebound method
samples of varying firmness have
different rebound distances when
impacting a rigid surface
These can be used to separate
commodities based on degree of
ripeness, maturity or quality
Methods of Measurement
Impact force method
the firmness of a commodity has a
direct effect on its force response
when it hits a rigid surface
a sensor on the impact surface
records the force response of the
sample that is dependent on the
impact, velocity, weight, shape and
firmness of the sample
Applications
Basis for classification
farmers have traditionally used sound
produced by tapping a commodity sharply
with the thumb and forefinger to determine the
maturity of young coconut, watermelon, durian
and pineapple
this method is based on the change in the
volume of void spaces, and thickness or density
of meat or pulp that affect the pitch or natural
frequency of vibration produced by tapping
the commodity
Young coconuts have been sorted into
different stages of maturity :
6-7 month old ( with mucus-like consistency
of the pulp)
7-8 month old (meat with the consistency of
cooked rice)
8-9 month old (with leather-like pulp)
sounds made by tapping samples were
recorded, digitized and analyzed
mathematically to determine differences in
the acoustic spectra between maturities
Results:
the pitch of sound waves ( 6-7 month old
nuts) was different from other stages of
maturity
Split nuts:
Meat thickness decreased as maturity
increased from 6 to 8 months
this coincided with a change in the quality
of sound produced by tapping
6-7 month old nut: produced a solid sound ,
while more mature nuts sounded hallow
Improvement of packing and
transport practices
commodities subjected to vibrations
display a series of natural or resonant
frequencies, some of which can be
influenced by product size and firmness
by knowing the resonant frequency of a
particular commodity as well as the
vibration characteristics of transport
vehicles, the proper packing depth and
method can be determined.
Ultrasonic transmission
Sound waves above the hearing
range of a human being are
considered ultrasonic, and include all
those having a frequency greater
than 20 kHz.
Methods of Measurement
basic system uses an ultrasonic emitter
to produce pulses that travel through
a sample
as pulses pass through, they are
altered according to the internal
condition of the sample and are
received by a recorder and analyzed
by computer.
Applications
Nondestructive evaluation of internal
quality
can detect internal discontinuities, e.g.,
hollow heart in potato, or air pockets due to
internal breakdown in mango.
‘ Tommy Atkins’ mango fruit ultrasonic
properties related to the physico-chemical
characteristics during ripening (Mizrach et
al.,1997)
Applications
Nondestructive evaluation of internal
quality
Result: acidity, sugar content and firmness (
major indices of maturity and ripening)
were significantly related to ultrasonic wave
attenuation
Nondestructive assessment of maturity and
prediction of shelf life of fruit.
Applications
Nondestructive detection of internal
defects
Use of ultrasound transducers to detect the
presence of pulp weevil in ‘Carabao’
mango (Sotto, 2001).
Applications
Nondestructive detection of internal
defects
When ultrasonic sound waves at 24.6 kHz
were transmitted through whole fruits, clear
differences in reflected waveforms were
observed between normal and infested
fruit.
Accuracy of 80% for pulp weevil infestation
75% accuracy for location of cavity
determination
