Simulation of Soil Cutting and Power Consumption Optimization of a Typical Rotary Tillage Soil Blade

Abstract

The rotary tillage knife roller, as one of the typical soil-touching parts of the tillage equipment cutting process, is in direct contact with the soil. During the cutting process, there are problems related to structural bending, deformation, and high power consumption, caused by impact and load, and it is difficult to observe the micro-change law of the rotary tillage tool and soil. In view of the above problems, we took the soil of the cotton experimental field in Shihezi, Xinjiang, and the soil-contacting parts of the rotary tillage equipment, specifically the rotary tiller roller, as the research subject. Using the finite-element method (FEM) to simulate the structure of the rotary tiller with different bending angle parameters, we obtained its average stress and deformation position information, and obtained a range linear relationship between the bending angle and the structural performance of the rotary tiller tool. Using discrete element method (DEM)-based simulation to build the corresponding contact model, soil particle model, and soil–rotary tillage knife roll interaction model to simulate the dynamic process of a rotary tillage knife roll cutting soil, we obtained the change rules of the soil deformation area, cutting process energy, cutting resistance, and soil particle movement. By using the orthogonal simulation test and the response surface method, we optimized the kinematic parameters of the rotary tiller roller and the key design parameters of a single rotary tiller. Taking the reduction of cutting power consumption as the optimization goal and considering the influence of the bending angle on its structural performance, the optimal parameter combination was obtained as follows: the forward speed was 900 m/h, the rotation speed was 100 rad/min, the bending angle was 115°, and the minimum power consumption of the cutter roller was 0.181 kW. The corresponding average stress and deformation were 0.983 mm and 41.826 MPa, which were 15.8%, 13%, and 7.9% lower than the simulation results of power consumption, stress, and deformation under the initial parameter setting, respectively. Finally, the effectiveness of the simulation optimization model in reducing power consumption and the accuracy of the soil-cutting simulation were verified by a rotary tilling inter-field test, which provided theoretical reference and technical support for the design and optimization of other typical soil-touching parts of tillage and related equipment, such as disc harrow, ploughshare, and sub-soiling shovel.

Calibration and Verification of Discrete Element Parameters of Surface Soil in Camellia Oleifera Forest

“…When the particles are not in direct contact, the Hertz-Mindlin with JKR contact model can also account for attractive cohesion. Equations ( 9) and (10) demonstrate the methods to calculate the normal maximum gap and tangential maximum gap when there is non-zero cohesion between the particles.…”

“…To study the interaction mechanism between vertical rotary tillers and soil, Shike Zhai et al [9] used EDEM to conduct a virtual simulation of different operating parameters and structural parameters of vertical rotary tillers and obtained the optimal operating parameters and structural parameters. Xiongye Zhang et al [10] utilized a simulation based on the discrete element method (DEM) to develop the contact model, soil particle model, and soil-rotary tiller roller interaction model. They simulated the dynamic process of the rotary tiller roller cutting soil and obtained information on the soil deformation area, cutting process energy, cutting resistance, and soil particle movement.…”

Simulation Analysis and Optimization Design of Paddy Field Mud Spreader Blades for Uniform Dispersion

“…Some researchers have explored altering particle trajectories by designing blades of different shapes to influence the movement of soil particles along predetermined paths [12][13][14][15]. Others have investigated the cutting and scattering processes of blades to uncover underlying patterns of particle motion [16][17][18][19][20]. Additionally, computer simulation techniques have been employed by some scholars to establish numerical models simulating blade operation processes [21][22][23][24][25][26][27].…”

Multi-Response Optimization Analysis of the Milling Process of Asphalt Layer Based on the Numerical Evaluation of Cutting Regime Parameters

“…The interaction between the asphalt clothing and the milling cutter teeth during the milling process (Figure 1) is a very complex phenomenon that has been studied using numerical approaches [3,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] or experimental investigations [1, [15][16][17][18]. Discrete Element Method (DEM) is a widely utilized method for studying dynamic processes, finding numerous applications in the field of asphalt pavement or soil engineering [19][20][21].…”