Parameter Optimization and DEM Simulation of Bionic Sweep with Lower Abrasive Wear Characteristics

High wear rates during the tillage process often result in significant financial losses and wasted farming seasons. In this paper, a bionic design was used to reduce tillage wear. Inspired by wear-resistant animals with ribbed structures, the bionic ribbed sweep (BRS) was designed by combining a ribbed unit with a conventional sweep (CS). BRSs with different parameters (width & phi;, height h, angle & theta;, and interval & lambda;) were simulated and optimized using the DEM and RSM methods at a working depth of 60 mm to evaluate the magnitude and trends of three responses: tillage resistance (TR), number of contacts between the sweep and soil particles (CNSP), and Archard wear value (AW). The results showed that a protective layer could be created on the surface of the sweep with a ribbed structure to reduce abrasive wear. Analysis of variance proved that factors & phi;, & theta;, and & lambda; had significant effects on AW, CNSP, and TR, while factor h was insignificant. An optimal solution was obtained using the desirability method, including 8.88 mm & phi;, 1.05 mm h, 3.01 mm & lambda;, and 34.46 & DEG; & theta;. Wear tests and simulations showed that wear loss could be effectively reduced at different speeds by the optimized BRS. It was found to be feasible to create a protective layer to reduce partial wear by optimizing the parameters of the ribbed unit.

Automated summary

In this study, a bionic design was used to reduce wear during the tillage process. The bionic ribbed sweep (BRS) was designed by combining a ribbed unit with a conventional sweep (CS). By simulating and optimizing BRSs with different parameters, it was found that a protective layer on the sweep surface could effectively reduce wear. An optimal solution was obtained through parameter optimization, resulting in reduced wear loss in wear tests and simulations. It was concluded that creating a protective layer by optimizing the parameters of the ribbed unit was feasible in reducing wear during tillage.