An Investigation on a Comprehensive Calibration Technique to Determine the Discrete Elemental Characteristics of Unrotted Sheep Dung at Varying Water Concentrations

Jian Wang (), Kailin Ren, Zhe Li and Longfei Zhang
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Jian Wang: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
Kailin Ren: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
Zhe Li: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
Longfei Zhang: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-22

Abstract: An experimental study was undertaken to investigate the problem of the substantial variability in water content in unrotted sheep dung, which leads to a lack of universality and practicality in calibrating its discrete element simulation parameters. The stacking angle was used as the response value in these experiments. The objective of this study was to establish precise simulation parameters for the composting process. A model for water content-stacking angle was established using the cylinder-lifting technique, resulting in a correlation value of 0.997. Utilizing the Hertz–Mindlin with JKR bonding model, three EDEM particle models were developed, each with distinct particle sizes, based on the particle size distribution of sheep dung. The JKR surface energy was determined using the Plackett–Burman test, the steepest-climbing test, and the Box–Behnken test using a set of 10 parameters. A subsequent study was conducted on the JKR surface energy, rolling friction factor, and static friction factor utilizing the Plackett–Burman test and Box–Behnken test. A parameter model for stacking angle–discrete elements was developed that achieved a p -value below 0.0001 and a relative inaccuracy of 3.46% or less. The regression model for the water content–discrete element parameter was derived by combining the water content–stacking angle model with the stacking angle–discrete element parameter model. Validation of this model was conducted using both the pumping plate technique and the hopper approach, resulting in a relative error of 4.89% or less. The findings demonstrate that the specific characteristics of sheep manure may be accurately anticipated by considering its water content. This approach offers a valid and universally applicable way of predicting the specific characteristics of sheep dung in the simulation of composting equipment.

Keywords: unrotted sheep manure; moisture content; discrete element; EDEM; calibration; stacking angle (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: 2024
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