Analysis on the Contact Interaction between Thresher and Corn Ears Based on the DEM

Abstract

The corn threshing process is a complex process of contact interaction between thresher mechanical parts and corn ears. The paper analyzed this process with the discrete element method (DEM). A method was set up to calculate the contact forces between thresher mechanical parts (boundary) and corn ears. The conditions for corn kernels threshing were established as well. On this basis, we developed the corn threshing simulation software, and simulated the corn threshing process using the software. The simulation results are close to the actual situation, and the results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the new method. Thus we have laid the foundation for using the DEM to analyze the corn threshing process and putting forward a novel method for the optimal design of the corn thresher.

Corn Ear Threshing Performance of Filler-Plate-Covered Threshing Cylinders

“…It is time-consuming method considering a theoretical analysis of corn ears threshing process usually involves a series simplification [11]. The random motion of the corn ears in the threshing space in most cases leads to a certain difference between the numerical results and experimental data [12].…”

Applications of Discrete Element Method in the Research of Agricultural Machinery: A Review

“…In order to model the magnetic force of seeds coated with magnetic powder, Wang [97] and Hu et al [98] created a force plug-in with C programming language using numerical fitting, then loaded the magnetic power through an API interface of EDEM software (DEM Solutions Ltd., Edinburgh, UK) to model the magnetic attraction behavior. Yu et al [99][100][101] established a maize-ear model with Agridem software, which they developed. A corncob was modeled by particles with connections, and special balls were set between the niblet and corncob particle to connect them together, the connections could be broken off, so that the breakage of the corncob and maize threshing process could be simulated.…”