Discrete Element-Based Simulation Analysis and Research of Potato Soil Agglomerate Fragmentation and Separation

Abstract

To study the influence law of the overburden rotating plate mechanism on the fragmentation and separation of potato soil agglomerates, a single-factor test and a response surface test simulation analysis of the soil fragmentation process were conducted in EDEM 2022 software. The results of the single-factor test show that the triangular rack blade of the overburdened rotating plate mechanism has the best effect on soil fragmentation and separation. With the increase in the lower blade speed, the upper lift chain bar line speed, and the tilt angle of the mechanism, the effect on the fragmentation and separation of potato soil agglomerates decreases. The response surface test results show that the debris removal rate decreases with the increase in blade speed and tilt angle, the percentage of bond breakage between potato soil particles declines with the rise of blade speed and lift chain bar line speed, and the percentage of bond breakage between soil particles increases with the increase in blade speed and lift chain bar line speed. The optimal solution was obtained by using the optimization function in Design-Expert 13 software, which was adjusted as follows: the blade rack type was triangular, the lift chain bar line speed was 0.307 m/s, the blade speed was 0.4 m/s, and the tilt angle was 40°. The research methods and results provide a reference for the simulation of potato soil crushing and separation motion in a sandy loam soil cultivation area.

Construction and parameter calibration of potato double‐layer flexible bonding model based on discrete‐element method

“…The irregular shape of the potato directly influences the quantity and structure of bonding bonds within the bonding model. To accurately replicate the material's profile structure, researchers like Zhang, Chen et al (2022) and Yan et al (2023) have utilized 3D scanning techniques for modeling. However, this method only yields a single‐layer body profile of the material, making it suitable for multisphere polymer and single‐layer bonding models, but not for constructing double‐layer bonding models.…”

“…Yan et al (2023),Liu, Chen, et al (2022), and utilized the Hertz-Mindlin (No Slip) model for modeling potato polysphere aggregation. However, this model was primarily focused on analyzing various contact behaviors of potatoes, excluding the consideration of peel-breaking damage.…”

Alfalfa Stalk Crushing Simulation Test and Parameter Optimization Method

“…In the EDEM software, the bonding model is utilized to bond particles together. When both the tangential force and normal force endured by the bonds exceed the limit value, the bonds will break and the particles will separate from each other, achieving the purpose of breaking [10][11][12]. Therefore, this study employed EDEM software to construct a bonding model of alfalfa stems.…”