Optimization Design and Experimental Study of Bionic Rotating Blades of Tobacco Field Rotary Tillers Based on EDEM and RSM

Abstract

To design a high-performance rotating tiller suitable for local tobacco-growing regions, this study developed a bionic rotating blade based on the foreleg curve of the dung beetle and established a reliable discrete element model (DEM) for the soil in tobacco fields. A soil-throwing motion model of the blade was constructed, and its strength was verified under extreme working conditions to ensure stability and reliability. Field operation simulations were conducted using the EDEM, focusing on the effects of blade type, forward speed, and rotational speed through single-factor and multi-factor experiments. The results showed that the influences of these factors are significant. The accuracy of the EDEM soil model was verified by determining the optimal parameters using the response surface method (RSM). Soil overturning efficiency and particle motion patterns were analyzed using optimal parameters. Field tests confirmed the reliability of the simulations, and the relative error between the physical and simulation results was below 10%. This study provides detailed theoretical guidance for the design of rotary tillers in tobacco producing regions.