A SINUSOIDAL COMPRESSION SYSTEM TO STUDY RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF FOODS IN THE TRANSIENT STATE

A testing device specially designed to study rheological properties of meats and their relation to tenderness is described. Samples are submitted to a sinusodal compression during 1 to 2 cycles with recovery delay of 0 to 10 s at frequencies between 0.05 and 25 Hz so that deformation rates thus attained overlapped those of chewing. The compression can be regulated between 10 and 90%, and adjusted to initial sample height from 3 to 30 mm. Sample strength is measured by a force quartz transducer connected to a high speed data acquisition and storage system, versus the deforming tool displacement whose specific law is given.