Calibration and Testing of Discrete Element Simulation Parameters for Urea Particles

Abstract

The lack of accurate simulation model parameters in the optimization design process of variable fertilizer application devices has resulted in large errors between simulation and theoretical calculation results, which has restricted the development of variable fertilizer application devices to a certain extent. Additionally, there are few scholars studying urea granules, so many parameters of urea granular fertilizer cannot be directly obtained from the literature. The aim of this study is to calibrate a set of simulation parameters by combining physical and simulation tests. In this study, intrinsic parameters were systematically determined, including the particle size, particle density, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio and their static friction coefficients, rolling friction coefficients and restitution coefficients of urea particles. By performing the urea particle stacking test, the static friction coefficient between urea particles was calibrated to 0.27, and the rolling friction coefficient between particles was 0.11. To check the reliability of the calibration parameters, the simulation and physical tests of the repose angle and bulk density of urea particles were compared, and the results show that the relative error of repose angles and bulk density of urea particles was 0.78% and 1.19%, respectively. Through the simulation of the mechanical variable fertilizer discharger and the comparison test of the benchtop fertilizer discharging performance, the maximum relative error between the simulation and physical test fertilizer discharge is 3.69% when the working length of the outer sheave is 25 mm; the maximum relative error between the simulation and physical test fertilizer discharge is 3.39% when the working length is 35 mm; the maximum relative error between the simulation and physical test fertilizer discharge is 6.86% when the working length is 45 mm; the maximum relative error between the simulation and physical test fertilizer discharge is 4.95% when the working length is 55 mm. The maximum relative error between the simulated and physical test fertilizer discharge was 6.86% at 45 mm opening and 4.95% at 55 mm opening, and the results show that the urea particle calibration parameters are reliable. The results of this study can provide a theoretical reference for the optimization design and simulation study of variable fertilizer application devices.