Numerical and experimental vibration analysis of olive tree for optimal mechanized harvesting efficiency and productivity

Abstract

A 3D model of a middle-size olive tree has been analyzed considering various shaking conditions by using an attached trunk shaker to improve the harvesting rate as regards the critical nodal acceleration and displacement. The effects of shaking frequency, loading type as well as temperature and loading height were simulated and investigated on olive-stem-twig joint rupture. Comparing the results of finite element modal analysis in ABAQUS 6.10 with those of field experiments, utilizing a hydraulic eccentric-mass trunk shaker, exhibits less than 5% deviation at frequencies between 10 to 25 Hz at the first four vibration modes with damping ratio of 16-30%. The experiments and simulations show the maximum harvested quantity of sample middle-size olive trees is 92% and 96%, respectively. It is acquired at f=20 Hz, T=28°C for 45% moisture content of wood in late November 2012, without chemicals. The optimized mechanical harvesting yielded the lower number of workers, time saving (~12 tree/hr), and to improve the obtained productivity (293 kg/hr). The results imply that accurate 3D analysis of mechanized olive harvesting can be an efficacious solution to obtain desired parameters and optimal efficiency, which is comparable to manual method.

The Finite Element Method Applied to Agricultural Engineering: A Review

“…Carvalho et al 20 2016 Stress concentration in a coffee model. Hoshyarmanesh et al 21 2017 Dynamic behavior in an olive tree model. Li et al 22 2017 Penetration resistance of a cutting tool model in soil with maize roots.…”

“…Hoshyarmanesh et al 21 obtained olive tree simulations for the prediction study of dynamic behavior from the system. Important parameters were considered for the system simulation, such as wood anisotropy, dynamic behavior of temperature and water content, and a more representative threedimensional model.…”

Modal properties of fruit-rachilla system of the macaw palm

“…Mechanical vibrations can be used as an option for the process of removing the fruit from the rachilla, either in a biofuel plant or during harvesting. Like other fruits, such as coffee, olive and citrus [4][5][6] etc., the modal properties, natural frequencies, and modes of vibration of the fruit-rachilla system are the basic data required to develop equipment employing mechanical vibrations to harvesting.…”

Mechanical collision simulation of potato tubers

“…These numerical method‐based simulations have been successfully applied to predict the behavior of structures and specific product development systematics in various engineering disciplines (Khoei, ). Use of FEA technique can be seen specifically on agricultural/food product‐related studies in recently published scientific literatures (Ashtiani et al, ; Caglayan et al, ; Celik, , , ; Fadiji, Coetzee, Berry, Ambaw, & Opara, ; Gao, Song, Rao, & Ying, ; Hoshyarmanesh, Dastgerdi, Ghodsi, Khandan, & Zareinia, ; Ji et al, ; Li, Andrews, & Wang, ; Mahapatra & Tripathy, ; Salarikia, Ashtiani, Golzarian, & Mohammadinezhad, ). These publications emphasize the advantages of the method in evaluation of the damage and bruising on the agricultural materials such as apples, pears, grapes, etc., under various loading conditions.…”