Calibration of DEM Parameters and Microscopic Deformation Characteristics During Compression Process of Lateritic Soil with Different Moisture Contents

Chao Ji, Wanru Liu, Yiguo Deng (), Yeqin Wang, Peimin Chen and Bo Yan
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Chao Ji: Institute of Agricultural Machinery, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Zhanjiang 524000, China
Wanru Liu: College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Yiguo Deng: Institute of Agricultural Machinery, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Zhanjiang 524000, China
Yeqin Wang: Institute of Agricultural Machinery, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Zhanjiang 524000, China
Peimin Chen: Institute of Agricultural Machinery, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Zhanjiang 524000, China
Bo Yan: Institute of Agricultural Machinery, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Zhanjiang 524000, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-13

Abstract: Lateritic soils in tropical regions feature cohesive textures and high specific resistance, driving up energy demands for tillage and harvesting machinery. However, current equipment designs lack discrete element models that account for soil moisture variations, and the microscopic effects of water content on lateritic soil deformation remain poorly understood. This study aims to calibrate and validate discrete element method (DEM) models of lateritic soil at varying moisture contents of 20.51%, 22.39%, 24.53%, 26.28%, and 28.04% by integrating the Hertz–Mindlin contact mechanics with bonding and JKR cohesion models. Key parameters in the simulations were calibrated through systematic experimentation. Using Plackett–Burman design, critical factors significantly affecting axial compressive force—including surface energy, normal bond stiffness, and tangential bond stiffness—were identified. Subsequently, Box–Behnken response surface methodology was employed to optimize these parameters by minimizing deviations between simulated and experimental maximum axial compressive forces under each moisture condition. The calibrated models demonstrated high fidelity, with average relative errors of 4.53%, 3.36%, 3.05%, 3.32%, and 7.60% for uniaxial compression simulations across the five moisture levels. Stress–strain analysis under axial loading revealed that at a given surface displacement, both fracture dimensions and stress transfer rates decreased progressively with increasing moisture content. These findings elucidate the moisture-dependent micromechanical behavior of lateritic soil and provide critical data support for DEM-based design optimization of soil-engaging agricultural implements in tropical environments.

Keywords: lateritic soil; moisture content; discrete element model; axial compression; parameter calibration (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: 2025
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