Finite Element Simulation and Performance Test of Loading and Mixing Characteristics of Self-Propelled Total Mixed Ration Mixer

Abstract

Simulation analysis and parameter optimization are performed for the loading and mixing devices of a self-propelled total mixed ration mixer. To reveal the three-dimensional movement of silage material under the action of the loading cutter roller, the latter is modeled using SolidWorks software. ANSYS/LS-DYNA software is used to simulate the process of silage cutting, which is modeled using smoothed particle hydrodynamics coupled with the finite element method. e cutting force and power consumption are simulated, and the behavior of the equivalent strain of the silage is determined. e results showed that silage was broken up mainly by extrusion and shear force due to the loading cutter roller. e power consumption according to the simulation is consistent with the value from an empirical formula, confirming the validity of the proposed modeling method. To study the mixing performance and obtain the optimum parameters of the mixing device, the Hertz-Mindlin model is used for the interaction between material particles and mixing device. A three-factor, five-level method is used to optimize the mixing performance. Material-mixing time, loading rate, and auger speed are chosen as experimental factors and mixed uniformity as an evaluation index. It is found that auger speed and material mixing time have significant effects on mixing uniformity. ese results provide reference values allowing the analysis of the crushing of silage and selection of the optimum parameters for mixing performance.

A study of mixer-feeder equipment operational reliability

“…In most countries with developed livestock production on cattle farms, considerable attention has been focused on the development of stationary or trailed vertical single-screw and horizontal twin-screw feed mixers-feed dispensers of feed mixtures (Li et al, 2017;Norton et al, 2019;Yezekyan et al, 2020). T. Fuyang et al (2020) argued that the hopper of these devices can be either horizontal trapezoidal or vertical in the shape of a cut cone. Mixer-feeders may also include auxiliary mechanical equipment in their design, including mills for loading and chopping feed or grabs only for loading it and weighing devices for weighing…”

“…At the same time, operators need to know how these changes in the design and operation of the grinding and mixing mechanism will affect the performance and reliability of feed mixers. T. Fuyang et al (2020) recommend improving the design and technological parameters of self-propelled feed mixers using the methodology and results of optimising the vertical auger of the grinding and mixing mechanism. The authors of the research paper note that to ensure the quality of preparation and uniformity of the dosed feed mixture, the screw rotation speed should be 22...26 min -1 .…”

Smooth particle hydrodynamics: a meshless approach for structural mechanics

“…Their proposed algorithm was capable of accounting for the volume expansion of the dough during baking, the fluid-solid phase transition, and the browning effect of the bread as the baking process advanced. Researchers Tian et al 5 performed simulation on a total mixed ration mixer to evaluate the loading and mixing performance of the device. The researchers utilized coupled FEM-SPH analysis, in which the cutter and outer silage layer were discretized by the FEM approach, and the inner silage layer was represented by the SPH method.…”

Design and Testing of Segmented Spiral Total Mix Ration Mixer

“…In light of these drawbacks associated with traditional feeding practices, TMR feeding has progressively emerged as the predominant method, particularly given the increasing scale and intensity of farming operations [3][4][5]. TMR mixers, machines designed to chop, knead, and blend straw with a concentrate to create TMR feed, play a central role in TMR feeding [6,7]. A blended feed can enhance the nutritional value of cattle and sheep feed, reduce the overall cost of stable feeding, and enhance the feed conversion rate.…”