Dynamic Simulation Analysis of the Working Process of the Picking Mechanism of a Sugarcane Leaf Cutting and Returning Machine

Abstract

Leaf–device interaction can effectively be modeled with a finite element model when proper finite element model parameters are applied. In order to investigate the contact mechanism of picking up sugarcane leaf during the operation of a sugarcane leaf cutting and returning machine, a geometric solid model of sugarcane leaf picking was established. A finite element numerical model to analyze the large deformation problem of flexible bodies was developed in LS-DYNA to simulate the picking process of the returning machine. A dynamic simulation of the sugarcane leaf-picking process was carried out to obtain the change of stress field and the motion posture of the sugarcane leaf and the elastic teeth. The picking process of the picking mechanism, the change in posture of the sugarcane leaves, the change in stress on the sugarcane leaf, the change in the bending angle of the sugarcane leaf and the change in stress on the elastic teeth were analyzed in detail. The results showed that the picking process can be divided into four stages: picking, lifting, pushing and retrieving. The posture changes of sugarcane leaf are “C”, logarithmic curve, wavy shape and “V”, in turn. During the picking process, the sugarcane blade showed some breakage, the sugarcane vein remained intact, and the elastic teeth did not fail. During the whole picking cycle, the maximum Von Mises stress of the blade, vein and elastic teeth were 22.8 MPa, 17.5 MPa and 900 MPa, respectively. An evaluation criterion of bending angle was creatively put forward to measure the bending deformation of leaves. The trend in the sugarcane leaf bending angle shows that it is largely variable, gradually decreasing, fluctuating and increasing with interval fluctuations. The working process of the picking mechanism was observed through a quick camera experiment. Comparing the experiment with the simulation, the changing trend of the simulation data and experimental data was generally similar. The experimental and simulation values of the average sugarcane leaf bending angle were 27° and 19°, respectively. The relative error of the average bending angle was 29.6%. It was concluded that the developed finite element model is substantial and could be applied to optimize and improve the picking mechanism. In addition, some references were provided for the contact mechanism between the picking mechanism and the sugarcane leaf.