Collision simulation of potato on rod separator

Abstract

Abstract To obtain the collision characteristics of potatoes colliding with steel rods of different parameters, the finite element analysis (FEA) method was used to study the impact contact stress, collision displacement, acceleration and impact force. The results showed that with increasing rod diameter, the maximum collision displacement of the potato in the Y direction decreased, and the maximum collision acceleration and impact peak force increased. With increasing rod tilt angle and rod spacing, the maximum collision displacement increased linearly, but the maximum collision acceleration and impact peak force decreased linearly. Within the range of analysis factors, the fluctuation of the maximum collision displacement, acceleration and impact peak force caused by the change in rod diameters were the smallest, which were 0.34 mm, 38 m/s2 and 9 N, respectively. When potatoes collided with single and double rods, all the collision characteristics increased with the increase in potato drop height, and the results for double rods were significantly smaller than those for single rod collision. When the potato mass was 250 g, the drop height was 200 mm for single rod collision or 250 mm for double rod collision, the impact contact stress reached the yield stress, and the potato was damaged. This article provides a data basis and a referenced method for the optimized design of the structural parameters and working parameters of the rod separator in the process of potato mechanized harvesting.