Biomimetic Rotary Tillage Blade Design for Reduced Torque and Energy Requirement
A rotary cultivator is a primary cultivating machine in many countries. However, it is always challenged by high operating torque and power requirement. To address this issue, biomimetic rotary tillage blades were designed in this study for reduced torque and energy requirement based on the geometri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Applied Bionics and Biomechanics |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8573897 |
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| author | Yuwan Yang Jin Tong Yuxiang Huang Jinguang Li Xiaohu Jiang |
| author_facet | Yuwan Yang Jin Tong Yuxiang Huang Jinguang Li Xiaohu Jiang |
| author_sort | Yuwan Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A rotary cultivator is a primary cultivating machine in many countries. However, it is always challenged by high operating torque and power requirement. To address this issue, biomimetic rotary tillage blades were designed in this study for reduced torque and energy requirement based on the geometric characteristics (GC) of five fore claws of mole rats, including the contour curves of the five claw tips (GC-1) and the structural characteristics of the multiclaw combination (GC-2). Herein, the optimal blade was selected by considering three factors: (1) the ratio (r) of claw width to lateral spacing, (2) the inclined angle (θ) of the multiclaw combination, and (3) the rotary speed (n) through the soil bin tests. The results showed that the order of influence of factors on torque was n, r, and θ; the optimal combination of factors with the minimal torque was r=1.25, θ=60°, and n=240 rpm. Furthermore, the torque of the optimal blade (BB-1) was studied by comparing with a conventional (CB) and a reported optimal biomimetic blade (BB-2) in the soil bin at the rotary speed from 160 to 320 rpm. Results showed that BB-1 and BB-2 averagely reduced the torque by 13.99% and 3.74% compared with CB, respectively. The field experiment results also showed the excellent soil-cutting performance of BB-1 whose average torques were largely reduced by 17.00%, 16.88%, and 21.80% compared with CB at different rotary speeds, forward velocities, and tillage depths, respectively. It was found that the geometric structure of the five claws of mole rats could not only enhance the penetrating and sliding cutting performance of the cutting edge of BB-1 but also diminish the soil failure wedge for minimizing soil shear resistance of BB-1. Therefore, the GC of five fore claws of mole rats could inspire the development of efficient tillage or digging tools for reducing soil resistance and energy consumption. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f50894541a764a7db677dc84ee8d4ada |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1176-2322 1754-2103 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Bionics and Biomechanics |
| spelling | doaj-art-f50894541a764a7db677dc84ee8d4ada2025-02-03T01:24:51ZengWileyApplied Bionics and Biomechanics1176-23221754-21032021-01-01202110.1155/2021/85738978573897Biomimetic Rotary Tillage Blade Design for Reduced Torque and Energy RequirementYuwan Yang0Jin Tong1Yuxiang Huang2Jinguang Li3Xiaohu Jiang4College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaCollege of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaCollege of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaCollege of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaA rotary cultivator is a primary cultivating machine in many countries. However, it is always challenged by high operating torque and power requirement. To address this issue, biomimetic rotary tillage blades were designed in this study for reduced torque and energy requirement based on the geometric characteristics (GC) of five fore claws of mole rats, including the contour curves of the five claw tips (GC-1) and the structural characteristics of the multiclaw combination (GC-2). Herein, the optimal blade was selected by considering three factors: (1) the ratio (r) of claw width to lateral spacing, (2) the inclined angle (θ) of the multiclaw combination, and (3) the rotary speed (n) through the soil bin tests. The results showed that the order of influence of factors on torque was n, r, and θ; the optimal combination of factors with the minimal torque was r=1.25, θ=60°, and n=240 rpm. Furthermore, the torque of the optimal blade (BB-1) was studied by comparing with a conventional (CB) and a reported optimal biomimetic blade (BB-2) in the soil bin at the rotary speed from 160 to 320 rpm. Results showed that BB-1 and BB-2 averagely reduced the torque by 13.99% and 3.74% compared with CB, respectively. The field experiment results also showed the excellent soil-cutting performance of BB-1 whose average torques were largely reduced by 17.00%, 16.88%, and 21.80% compared with CB at different rotary speeds, forward velocities, and tillage depths, respectively. It was found that the geometric structure of the five claws of mole rats could not only enhance the penetrating and sliding cutting performance of the cutting edge of BB-1 but also diminish the soil failure wedge for minimizing soil shear resistance of BB-1. Therefore, the GC of five fore claws of mole rats could inspire the development of efficient tillage or digging tools for reducing soil resistance and energy consumption.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8573897 |
| spellingShingle | Yuwan Yang Jin Tong Yuxiang Huang Jinguang Li Xiaohu Jiang Biomimetic Rotary Tillage Blade Design for Reduced Torque and Energy Requirement Applied Bionics and Biomechanics |
| title | Biomimetic Rotary Tillage Blade Design for Reduced Torque and Energy Requirement |
| title_full | Biomimetic Rotary Tillage Blade Design for Reduced Torque and Energy Requirement |
| title_fullStr | Biomimetic Rotary Tillage Blade Design for Reduced Torque and Energy Requirement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biomimetic Rotary Tillage Blade Design for Reduced Torque and Energy Requirement |
| title_short | Biomimetic Rotary Tillage Blade Design for Reduced Torque and Energy Requirement |
| title_sort | biomimetic rotary tillage blade design for reduced torque and energy requirement |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8573897 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yuwanyang biomimeticrotarytillagebladedesignforreducedtorqueandenergyrequirement AT jintong biomimeticrotarytillagebladedesignforreducedtorqueandenergyrequirement AT yuxianghuang biomimeticrotarytillagebladedesignforreducedtorqueandenergyrequirement AT jinguangli biomimeticrotarytillagebladedesignforreducedtorqueandenergyrequirement AT xiaohujiang biomimeticrotarytillagebladedesignforreducedtorqueandenergyrequirement |