Simulation for Design and Material Selection of a Deep Placement Fertilizer Applicator for Soybean Cultivation

Abstract

Abstract The optimal design of a subsoiler implement is a complex work that includes optimal design, material properties, structural reliability, random variables, soil properties, soil tillage equipment, and optimum safety measures. The main objectives of this study were to design and simulate the deep placement fertilizer applicator (DPFA) by using the finite element method (FEM). FEM simulation software was used to select the optimum material properties and improve the safety factor by considering a range of loads on DPFA. Three applied forces in a static simulation (4500, 5000 and 6000 N) were considered as were three application depths of fertilizers (0.15, 0.20, and 0.25 m), to improve the safety measures of the design. The simulation results showed that the best material property for DPFA is the AISI 4135 QT carbon steel materials. This yields a high strength of 780MPa and an ultimate tensile strength of 950 MPa (Young’s Modulus of 207 GPa and with Poisson’s Ratio of 0.33). The static simulation for 6000 N shows that the DPFA model had a maximum stress and strain of 379.9 MPa and 25.6×10−4 mm/mm respectively, with a contact pressure of 207 MPa, and a maximum displacement of 3.1 mm. The study results can provide theoretical and technical support for the development of agricultural tools, especially for DPFA in selecting optimum material properties and improving safety factors.