Discrete Element Method Simulation and Field Evaluation of a Vibrating Root-Tuber Shovel in Cohesive and Frictional Soils

Emmanuel Awuah, Kojo Atta Aikins, Diogenes L. Antille, Jun Zhou (), Bertrand Vigninou Gbenontin, Peter Mecha and Zian Liang
Additional contact information
Emmanuel Awuah: College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 40 Dianjiangtai, Pukou District, Nanjing 210031, China
Kojo Atta Aikins: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi AK-385-1973, Ghana
Diogenes L. Antille: CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Black Mountain Science and Innovation Precinct, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Jun Zhou: College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 40 Dianjiangtai, Pukou District, Nanjing 210031, China
Bertrand Vigninou Gbenontin: College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 40 Dianjiangtai, Pukou District, Nanjing 210031, China
Peter Mecha: College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 40 Dianjiangtai, Pukou District, Nanjing 210031, China
Zian Liang: College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 40 Dianjiangtai, Pukou District, Nanjing 210031, China

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-22

Abstract: Soil-cutting forces are key indicators of root-tuber harvesters and other soil-engaging tools’ performance. To improve operational efficiency, minimise soil disturbance, and reduce fuel consumption, the draught and vertical forces involved in root and tuber crop harvesting must be minimised. Two field experiments assessed the harvester’s performance at a depth of 200 mm, varying frequencies, and travel speeds on clay and sandy loam soils. Discrete element models (DEM) were developed and subsequently used to replicate the field experiments and evaluate S-shaped and fork-shaped shovels. Linear regression and ANOVA ( p < 0.05) were used to analyse the data. Draught force concurrently increased with speed in both soil textures but decreased with vibration frequency. The draught force decreased by approximately 41% in clay soil and 21% in sandy loam soil when the harvester was operated between 5 Hz and 14.5 Hz and between 10 Hz and 12.5 Hz, respectively. DEM simulations had relative errors of 4% (clay) and 4.7% (sandy loam) for draught force and drawbar power compared to experimental data. The S-shaped shovel was more efficient at crushing and translocating soil–crop mass to the rear of the harvester than the fork-shaped shovel. These DEM soil–crop models are reliable for evaluating other root-tuber harvesting tools.

Keywords: clay; frequency; sandy loam; soil reaction forces; soil–crop model; Jerusalem artichoke (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/8/1525/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/8/1525/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:8:p:1525-:d:1207471

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().