Design and Test of a Bionic Auxiliary Soil-Crushing Device for Strip-Tillage Machines

Suitable strip-tillage effectively enhances crop productivity and soil quality in Northeast China, yet conventional strip-tillage machines suffer from inadequate soil fragmentation. To address this issue, this study developed a bionic auxiliary soil-crushing device for the equipment. Specifically, w...

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Main Authors: Kui Zhang, Yong-Ying Zhang, Xinliang Zhao, Yun Zhao, Xin Feng, Qi Wang, Jinwu Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/9/944
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author Kui Zhang
Yong-Ying Zhang
Xinliang Zhao
Yun Zhao
Xin Feng
Qi Wang
Jinwu Wang
author_facet Kui Zhang
Yong-Ying Zhang
Xinliang Zhao
Yun Zhao
Xin Feng
Qi Wang
Jinwu Wang
author_sort Kui Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Suitable strip-tillage effectively enhances crop productivity and soil quality in Northeast China, yet conventional strip-tillage machines suffer from inadequate soil fragmentation. To address this issue, this study developed a bionic auxiliary soil-crushing device for the equipment. Specifically, we conducted a theoretical analysis of the soil-crushing blade to identify the key structural parameters affecting operational performance, along with their optimal value ranges. The blade tooth structure was designed following the claw-toe contour of the Oriental mole cricket (<i>Gryllotalpa orientalis</i>) for enhanced efficiency. A two-factor (working width and working depth), three-level central composite design (CCD) experiment was carried out using EDEM 2021 discrete element simulation software, taking the soil fragmentation rate and operational resistance as response variables. The results suggested that optimal performance was achieved at a working width of 40.66 mm and a working depth of 50 mm. Field experiments demonstrate that the soil fragmentation rate increased as the operational speed rose. The addition of the auxiliary device contributed to a soil fragmentation rate of 94.54%, bringing about an 11.54% improvement compared to the non-equipped machine. This outcome also validated the accuracy of the simulation experiments. This research provides technical and equipment support for the further development of conservation tillage practices.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2077-0472
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Agriculture
spelling doaj-art-2e535fc1193e47959bdf332ed22ca9522025-08-20T01:49:08ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-04-0115994410.3390/agriculture15090944Design and Test of a Bionic Auxiliary Soil-Crushing Device for Strip-Tillage MachinesKui Zhang0Yong-Ying Zhang1Xinliang Zhao2Yun Zhao3Xin Feng4Qi Wang5Jinwu Wang6College of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaSuitable strip-tillage effectively enhances crop productivity and soil quality in Northeast China, yet conventional strip-tillage machines suffer from inadequate soil fragmentation. To address this issue, this study developed a bionic auxiliary soil-crushing device for the equipment. Specifically, we conducted a theoretical analysis of the soil-crushing blade to identify the key structural parameters affecting operational performance, along with their optimal value ranges. The blade tooth structure was designed following the claw-toe contour of the Oriental mole cricket (<i>Gryllotalpa orientalis</i>) for enhanced efficiency. A two-factor (working width and working depth), three-level central composite design (CCD) experiment was carried out using EDEM 2021 discrete element simulation software, taking the soil fragmentation rate and operational resistance as response variables. The results suggested that optimal performance was achieved at a working width of 40.66 mm and a working depth of 50 mm. Field experiments demonstrate that the soil fragmentation rate increased as the operational speed rose. The addition of the auxiliary device contributed to a soil fragmentation rate of 94.54%, bringing about an 11.54% improvement compared to the non-equipped machine. This outcome also validated the accuracy of the simulation experiments. This research provides technical and equipment support for the further development of conservation tillage practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/9/944passive strip-tillage machinesbiomimicryauxiliary soil-crushing devicediscrete element methodstructural optimization
spellingShingle Kui Zhang
Yong-Ying Zhang
Xinliang Zhao
Yun Zhao
Xin Feng
Qi Wang
Jinwu Wang
Design and Test of a Bionic Auxiliary Soil-Crushing Device for Strip-Tillage Machines
Agriculture
passive strip-tillage machines
biomimicry
auxiliary soil-crushing device
discrete element method
structural optimization
title Design and Test of a Bionic Auxiliary Soil-Crushing Device for Strip-Tillage Machines
title_full Design and Test of a Bionic Auxiliary Soil-Crushing Device for Strip-Tillage Machines
title_fullStr Design and Test of a Bionic Auxiliary Soil-Crushing Device for Strip-Tillage Machines
title_full_unstemmed Design and Test of a Bionic Auxiliary Soil-Crushing Device for Strip-Tillage Machines
title_short Design and Test of a Bionic Auxiliary Soil-Crushing Device for Strip-Tillage Machines
title_sort design and test of a bionic auxiliary soil crushing device for strip tillage machines
topic passive strip-tillage machines
biomimicry
auxiliary soil-crushing device
discrete element method
structural optimization
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/9/944
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AT yunzhao designandtestofabionicauxiliarysoilcrushingdeviceforstriptillagemachines
AT xinfeng designandtestofabionicauxiliarysoilcrushingdeviceforstriptillagemachines
AT qiwang designandtestofabionicauxiliarysoilcrushingdeviceforstriptillagemachines
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