Discrete Element Model Building and Optimization of Tomato Stalks at Harvest

Qimin Gao, Lei Cheng, Renbing Wang, Mingjiang Chen (), Weisong Zhao, Jingjing Fu and Zhenwei Wang
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Qimin Gao: Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
Lei Cheng: Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
Renbing Wang: Binzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Binzhou 256600, China
Mingjiang Chen: Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
Weisong Zhao: Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
Jingjing Fu: Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China
Zhenwei Wang: Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: The mechanical properties of tomato stalk, relevant to the harvesting and crushing of tomato vines, significantly impact its harvesting quality and efficiency. Establishing a simulation model, which accurately mirrors these properties, is foundational for designing related mechanical components. The discrete element method models tomato stalk harvesting and is optimized through mechanical tests and simulations. A blend of Plackett–Burman, steepest ascent, and central composite design modeling identified three contact model parameters influencing the maximum stalk shear force. The optimal values of these three parameters were a normal stiffness of 1.04 × 10 10 N m −3 , tangential stiffness of 7.59 × 10 9 N m −3 , and bond radius of 1.06 mm. The relative error in the simulated versus measured shear force was <1%, affirming the model’s accuracy in characterizing cutting properties. These findings lay the theoretical groundwork for numerical simulations of tomato-stalk-related equipment.

Keywords: tomato stalk; mechanical property; parameter optimization; discrete element method (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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