Optimization and Accuracy Analysis of a Soil–Planter Model during the Sowing Period of Wheat after a Rice Stubble Based Discrete Element Method

Abstract

The soil during the sowing period of wheat after rice stubble cannot be accurately described by existing models and parameters with DEM because of its high moisture content and strong viscosity. The purpose of this study is to conduct an overall simulation of high-viscosity paddy soil and to analyze the accuracy of the model. Based on the results of an unconfined compression test and shear test, the range of bond parameters is preliminarily determined by a simulation test. Through the P-BD test and RSM test, the parameters with significant influence are determined to be normal stiffness per unit area (SN), shear stiffness per unit area (SS), and critical shear stress (CS), and an optimized combination of these parameters is obtained. Based on the optimized model, the error range and error generation mechanism of the model are analyzed under different operating parameters. The results show that the optimal parameter combination is SN of 1.07 × 107 N/m3, SS of 0.70 × 107 N/m3, and CS of 0.35 × 105 Pa, corresponding to a compression force of 120.1 N and a shear force of 7.70 N. With an increase in forward speed or seeding quantity or a decrease in rotary plowing speed, the model accuracy tends to increase, and the range of relative errors was found to be from 8.8% to 28.4%. The results can provide a research basis for the study of the motion state of seeds under soil. It can also further enrich parameter data of soil discrete element simulation models and provide a reference for related research studies.