Analysis of Damage Characteristics and Fragmentation Simulation of Soybean Seeds Based on the Finite-Element Method

Soybeans are a crucial crop, and it is therefore necessary to make accurate predictions of their mechanical properties during harvesting to optimize the design of threshing cylinders, minimize the breakage rate during threshing, and enhance the quality of the final product. However, a precise model...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuxuan Chen, Zhong Tang, Bin Li, Shiguo Wang, Yang Liu, Weiwei Zhou, Jianpeng Jing, Xiaoying He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Agriculture
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/7/780
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849738751888064512
author Yuxuan Chen
Zhong Tang
Bin Li
Shiguo Wang
Yang Liu
Weiwei Zhou
Jianpeng Jing
Xiaoying He
author_facet Yuxuan Chen
Zhong Tang
Bin Li
Shiguo Wang
Yang Liu
Weiwei Zhou
Jianpeng Jing
Xiaoying He
author_sort Yuxuan Chen
collection DOAJ
description Soybeans are a crucial crop, and it is therefore necessary to make accurate predictions of their mechanical properties during harvesting to optimize the design of threshing cylinders, minimize the breakage rate during threshing, and enhance the quality of the final product. However, a precise model for the mechanical response of soybean seeds under stress conditions is currently lacking. To establish an accurate finite-element model (FEM) for soybeans that can predict their mechanical behavior under various loading conditions, an ellipsoidal modeling approach tailored for soybeans is proposed. Soybeans harvested in Xinjiang were collected and processed as experimental materials; the average moisture content was 11.77%, there was an average density of 1.229 g/cm³, and the average geometric specifications (height, thickness, and width) were 8.50 mm, 7.92 mm, and 7.10 mm, respectively. Compression tests were conducted on the soybeans in vertical, horizontal, and lateral orientations at the same loading speed to analyze the load and damage stages of these soybeans harvested in Xinjiang. The experimental results indicate that as the contact area decreases, the crushing load increases, with soybeans in the horizontal orientation being able to withstand the highest ultimate pressure. When placed vertically, the soybeans are not crushed; in horizontal and lateral orientations, however, they exhibit varying degrees of breakage. The Hertz formula was simplified based on the geometric characteristics of soybeans, and the elastic moduli in the X, Y, and Z directions of the soybean seeds were calculated as 42.8821 MPa, 40.4342 MPa, and 48.7659 MPa, respectively, using this simplified Hertz formula. A model of the soybeans was created in SolidWorks Ver.2019 and imported into ANSYS WORKBENCH for simulation verification. The simulation results were consistent with the experimental findings. The research findings enhance the understanding of the mechanical behavior of soybean seeds and provide robust scientific support for the optimization of soybean processing technologies and the improvement of storage and transportation efficiency.
format Article
id doaj-art-1b7c6e52e33b43c7bbc4d545d762071e
institution DOAJ
issn 2077-0472
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Agriculture
spelling doaj-art-1b7c6e52e33b43c7bbc4d545d762071e2025-08-20T03:06:28ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-04-0115778010.3390/agriculture15070780Analysis of Damage Characteristics and Fragmentation Simulation of Soybean Seeds Based on the Finite-Element MethodYuxuan Chen0Zhong Tang1Bin Li2Shiguo Wang3Yang Liu4Weiwei Zhou5Jianpeng Jing6Xiaoying He7College of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaXinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, ChinaXinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, ChinaXinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaSoybeans are a crucial crop, and it is therefore necessary to make accurate predictions of their mechanical properties during harvesting to optimize the design of threshing cylinders, minimize the breakage rate during threshing, and enhance the quality of the final product. However, a precise model for the mechanical response of soybean seeds under stress conditions is currently lacking. To establish an accurate finite-element model (FEM) for soybeans that can predict their mechanical behavior under various loading conditions, an ellipsoidal modeling approach tailored for soybeans is proposed. Soybeans harvested in Xinjiang were collected and processed as experimental materials; the average moisture content was 11.77%, there was an average density of 1.229 g/cm³, and the average geometric specifications (height, thickness, and width) were 8.50 mm, 7.92 mm, and 7.10 mm, respectively. Compression tests were conducted on the soybeans in vertical, horizontal, and lateral orientations at the same loading speed to analyze the load and damage stages of these soybeans harvested in Xinjiang. The experimental results indicate that as the contact area decreases, the crushing load increases, with soybeans in the horizontal orientation being able to withstand the highest ultimate pressure. When placed vertically, the soybeans are not crushed; in horizontal and lateral orientations, however, they exhibit varying degrees of breakage. The Hertz formula was simplified based on the geometric characteristics of soybeans, and the elastic moduli in the X, Y, and Z directions of the soybean seeds were calculated as 42.8821 MPa, 40.4342 MPa, and 48.7659 MPa, respectively, using this simplified Hertz formula. A model of the soybeans was created in SolidWorks Ver.2019 and imported into ANSYS WORKBENCH for simulation verification. The simulation results were consistent with the experimental findings. The research findings enhance the understanding of the mechanical behavior of soybean seeds and provide robust scientific support for the optimization of soybean processing technologies and the improvement of storage and transportation efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/7/780soybean kerneldamage stage analysisANSYScrushing parameter measurementfinite-element simulation
spellingShingle Yuxuan Chen
Zhong Tang
Bin Li
Shiguo Wang
Yang Liu
Weiwei Zhou
Jianpeng Jing
Xiaoying He
Analysis of Damage Characteristics and Fragmentation Simulation of Soybean Seeds Based on the Finite-Element Method
Agriculture
soybean kernel
damage stage analysis
ANSYS
crushing parameter measurement
finite-element simulation
title Analysis of Damage Characteristics and Fragmentation Simulation of Soybean Seeds Based on the Finite-Element Method
title_full Analysis of Damage Characteristics and Fragmentation Simulation of Soybean Seeds Based on the Finite-Element Method
title_fullStr Analysis of Damage Characteristics and Fragmentation Simulation of Soybean Seeds Based on the Finite-Element Method
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Damage Characteristics and Fragmentation Simulation of Soybean Seeds Based on the Finite-Element Method
title_short Analysis of Damage Characteristics and Fragmentation Simulation of Soybean Seeds Based on the Finite-Element Method
title_sort analysis of damage characteristics and fragmentation simulation of soybean seeds based on the finite element method
topic soybean kernel
damage stage analysis
ANSYS
crushing parameter measurement
finite-element simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/7/780
work_keys_str_mv AT yuxuanchen analysisofdamagecharacteristicsandfragmentationsimulationofsoybeanseedsbasedonthefiniteelementmethod
AT zhongtang analysisofdamagecharacteristicsandfragmentationsimulationofsoybeanseedsbasedonthefiniteelementmethod
AT binli analysisofdamagecharacteristicsandfragmentationsimulationofsoybeanseedsbasedonthefiniteelementmethod
AT shiguowang analysisofdamagecharacteristicsandfragmentationsimulationofsoybeanseedsbasedonthefiniteelementmethod
AT yangliu analysisofdamagecharacteristicsandfragmentationsimulationofsoybeanseedsbasedonthefiniteelementmethod
AT weiweizhou analysisofdamagecharacteristicsandfragmentationsimulationofsoybeanseedsbasedonthefiniteelementmethod
AT jianpengjing analysisofdamagecharacteristicsandfragmentationsimulationofsoybeanseedsbasedonthefiniteelementmethod
AT xiaoyinghe analysisofdamagecharacteristicsandfragmentationsimulationofsoybeanseedsbasedonthefiniteelementmethod