Review of Discrete Element Method Simulations of Soil Tillage and Furrow Opening

In agricultural machinery design and optimization, the discrete element method (DEM) has played a major role due to its ability to speed up the design and manufacturing process by reducing multiple prototyping, testing, and evaluation under experimental conditions. In the field of soil dynamics, DEM...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agriculture (Basel) 2023-03, Vol.13 (3), p.541
Main Authors: Aikins, Kojo Atta, Ucgul, Mustafa, Barr, James B., Awuah, Emmanuel, Antille, Diogenes L., Jensen, Troy A., Desbiolles, Jacky M. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural equipment
Agricultural technology
Analysis
Bond strength
calibration
cohesive and frictional soils
DEM contact models
Design
Design optimization
Discrete element method
Furrows
Granular materials
Manufacturing industry
Mathematical models
Numerical analysis
Numerical methods
Parameters
Prototyping
Shape optimization
Simulation methods
Sliding friction
Software
Soil dynamics
soil failure
soil forces
Soil surfaces
Soil types
Tillage
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Summary:In agricultural machinery design and optimization, the discrete element method (DEM) has played a major role due to its ability to speed up the design and manufacturing process by reducing multiple prototyping, testing, and evaluation under experimental conditions. In the field of soil dynamics, DEM has been mainly applied in the design and optimization of soil-engaging tools, especially tillage tools and furrow openers. This numerical method is able to capture the dynamic and bulk behaviour of soils and soil–tool interactions. This review focused on the various aspects of the application of DEM in the simulation of tillage and furrow opening for tool design optimization. Different contact models, particle sizes and shapes, and calibration techniques for determining input parameters for tillage and furrow opening research have been reviewed. Discrete element method predictions of furrow profiles, disturbed soil surface profiles, soil failure, loosening, disturbance parameters, reaction forces, and the various types of soils modelled with DEM have also been highlighted. This pool of information consolidates existing working approaches used in prior studies and helps to identify knowledge gaps which, if addressed, will advance the current soil dynamics modelling capability.
ISSN:2077-0472
2077-0472
DOI:10.3390/agriculture13030541