Modeling the soil heterogeneity in the discrete element model of soil-sweep interaction

Abstract

In agriculture the analyse of soil compaction in soil-tool interaction has a significant role. The equipments of agricultural farms are getting bigger and more complicated and it has huge importance to optimize the tillage methods. Two of most frequently investigated factors are the tool’s mixing-effect and the draught force on the tool; these results are important for agronomical experts to design tillage tools and cultivation processes. Discrete element method (DEM) is one of the numerical methods to model soil’s behaviour and soil-tool interaction. Aim of this study is to develop a 3D DEM model for clay soil and analyse the behaviour of soil- model regarding to non-homogeneous soil condition of agricultural fields. Simulation results will be compared with field test measurements for cone penetration tests. In this paper effects of particle’s shape and micromechanical properties will be investigated and simulations will be compared using special particles, so-called clumps in model. Clumps are aggregations that are set of spheres. This study investigates the effect of using clumps instead spheres in simulations and it will be attempted to model the thixotropic behaviour of soil with special kind of particles. Non-homogeneous property and varied compaction of field soil will be modelled with more layers, keep to be comparable the simulation results with field tests. Measurements were set for content; study investigates appropriate set of micromechanical parameters to simulate the effect of water.