AAFRJ 2021; 2(1): a0000205. https://doi.org/10.36877/aafrj.a0000205 http://journals.hh-publisher.com/index.php/AAFRJ/index ADVANCES IN AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD RESEARCH JOURNAL Review Article Reliability of Finite Element Analysis to Determine the Mechanical Responses in Fruits and Root-Vegetables Nurazwin Zulkifli 1 , Norhashila Hashim 1,2 *, Hazreen Haizi Harith 1,2 , Mohamad Firdza Mohamad Shukery 1 , Daniel Iroemeha Onwude 3 , and Masniza Sairi 4 1 Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia, nurazwinzulkifli@gmail.com; hazreen@upm.edu.my; firdza@upm.edu.my 2 SMART Farming Technology Research Centre (SFTRC), Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia 3 Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo, Uyo 52021, Nigeria, daniel.onwude@empa.ch 4 Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Serdang 43400, Malaysia, masniza@mardi.gov.my *Corresponding author: Norhashila Hashim, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia; norhashila@upm.edu.my Abstract: Maintaining the quality of fresh fruits and root-vegetables (FV) is still a very challenging task due to its susceptibility to physical damage. The quantification of damage depends on the mechanical behaviour of FV subjected to either static or dynamic impact loading. This work aims to provide readers with the background information regarding the applicability of finite element (FE) modelling to predict the mechanical properties, yield strength and failure of FV subjected to any given load, specifically during post-harvest operations. Therefore, the relations between the reverse engineering approaches, mechanical tests and FE method were discussed. A brief description of geometrical modelling, material model and validation techniques that allow for a more accurate FE model was also reviewed. This article presents the recent developments in FE model, highlighting the applications and their contributions to the agricultural field as well as identifying open issues where extensive research is needed. Keywords: Finite element method; mechanical model; fruit; root-vegetable Received: 4 th March 2021 Received in revised form: 17 th May 2021 Accepted: 23 rd May 2021 Available Online: 5 th June 2021 1. Introduction The reduction of post-harvest losses has significantly increased the accessibility of consumers to good quality agricultural produces. For that, the handling operations need to be improved so that the reduction in these losses would increase the number of the produces Citation: Zulkifli, N., Hashim, N., Harith, H. H., et al. Reliability of finite element analysis to determine the mechanical responses in fruits and root-vegetables. Adv Agri Food Res J 2021; 2(1): a0000205. https://doi.org/10.36877/aafrj.a0000205