Realistic representation of time-dependent internal stress progression and deformation behaviour of a potato tuber during a sample drop case has been studied in this paper. A reverse engineering approach, compressive tests, slow motion camera records and finite element analysis (FEA) were employed to analyse the drop case deformation behaviour of a sample potato tuber. Simulation results provided useful numerical data and stress distribution visuals. The numerical results are presented in a format that can be used for the determination of bruise susceptibility magnitude on solid-like agricultural products during drop case. The visual observations revealed that slow motion camera images and simulation printouts were in good correlation. The modulus of elasticity of the potato specimens was calculated from experimental data to be 3.12 [MPa] and simulation results showed that the maximum equivalent stress was 0.526 [MPa] on the tuber. This value for stress indicates that bruising is not likely on the tuber under a pre-defined drop height. In order to test the simulation accuracy, empirical and simulation-based estimates for total energy in this drop case were compared. The relative difference between empirical and simulation results was 1.27 %. This study provide a good “how to do” guide to
further research on the utilisation of (FEM)-based time-dependent simulation approach in complex mechanical impact based damaging analyses and industry focused applications related to solid-like agricultural products such as potato.