Influence of sugar beet storage duration on root responseto non-destructive impacts

Abstract

Abstract For the purpose of this paper, sugar beet roots were loaded by creating the impact of aluminium bars falling from different heights. The time history of the force at the contact between the sugar beet root and the bar was measured. The response of the sugar beet root to the impact was evaluated in terms of surface displacement. This displacement was measured using a laser vibrometer. The displacement was studied in the time and frequency domain during the postharvest period, up to 71 days after crop collection. The measured parameters describing the sugar beet response were significantly sensitive to the storage duration, namely in the frequency domain. Correlations between the storage duration and the main parameters of both the force and surface displacement were identified (p < 0.05).