Multiphysics FEM-based Design and Thermo-mechanical Simulation of Domestically Used tuberous food Processing Machine

ABSTRACT

Tuberous root crops such as yam, cassava, and cocoyam are vital staples in Nigeria, yet their traditional manual processing through pounding is laborious, intensive, time-consuming, and physically demanding. This study applies a Multiphysics finite element method (FEM) approach to the design and thermo-mechanical simulation of a domestically used tuberous food processing machine, with focus on optimizing its processing chamber withe critical site of thermal and structural interactions. The machine comprises a stainless-steel container with shaft–blade assembly and polyethylene insulation for heat retention. Using ANSYS, thermal analyses incorporated internal convection from food heating and external cooling, while static structural simulations evaluated von Mises stress, elastic strain, and total deformation under coupled loads. Mesh models of open and closed chamber designs were refined for accurate predictions. Findings from the study showed that bottom-heated models achieved higher base temperatures of 80.5 °C enabling rapid processing. The heat flux peaked at 0.0186 W/mm² in the localized hotspots but was reduced to 0.0030 W/mm² through design refinements, enhancing uniformity. Equivalent elastic strain, initially 0.0818 mm/mm at chamber–blade interfaces, was minimized to 0.000126 mm/mm after optimization. Similarly, von Mises stress fell from 86.9 MPa in the chamber to 24.3 MPa in blade assemblies, well below the yield strength of stainless steel. The findings demonstrate that FEM-based thermo-mechanical analysis effectively informs material selection and geometry optimization, producing safer, more durable, and energy-efficient machines. Beyond technical performance, adoption of such optimized designs can alleviate manual drudgery, improve food safety, and support food security in agrarian communities.

Keywords: Tuberous food processing machine, Finite element method (FEM), Thermo- mechanical simulation, Multiphysics analysis, Design optimization