Simulation and Experimental Investigations on the Sugarcane Cutting Mechanism and Effects of Influence Factors on the Cutting Quality of Small Sugarcane Harvesters under Vibration Excitations

Abstract

In order to study the sugarcane cutting mechanism and the effects of influence factors on the sugarcane cutting quality (SCQ) of small sugarcane harvesters in hilly areas, sugarcane cutting experiments and simulations were done through a self-developed sugarcane harvester experiment platform (SHEP) and the finite element analysis (FEA) method. The comprehensive cutting quality evaluating value (CCQEV) was calculated through the number of sugarcane cracks, the crack thickness, and the crack length to evaluate the SCQ. Effects of the amplitude and the frequency of the axial cutter vibration, the cutter rotation velocity, the sugarcane feeding velocity, and the cutter installing angle on the CCQEV were studied. Effects of interaction between the amplitude and the frequency of the axial cutter vibration and that between the axial cutter vibration amplitude and the cutter rotation velocity on the CCQEV were also studied. The sugarcane cutting mechanism was studied through analysis of cutting force signals, the high-speed photographing result in the sugarcane cutting process, and FEA simulations of the sugarcane cutting process, which verified discoveries obtained through sugarcane cutting experiments. This research laid the foundation for the development of small sugarcane harvesters with a good SCQ in hilly areas.

Application of Grey Relational Analysis and Multiple Linear Regression to Establish the Cutting Force Model of Oil Peony Stalk

“…Based on previous studies, it could be found that the physical morphological characteristics of stalk were very important for its mechanical properties. In order to measure the mechanical property of the stalk, the relationship between the mechanical properties and physical properties should be studied [16,17]. ese viewpoints could also be verified from this article.…”

“…e relationship between the breaking force of oil peony seed and related factor was established [15]. In addition to the parameters of the cutting equipment, the mechanical properties of the stalk were varied with the change of the stalk diameter, internode distance, weight, and moisture content [16,17]. Other engineering property parameters of oil peony stalk, for example, the chemical components of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin, were different with other crops, which was worth discussing.…”

Experimental research on effects of influence factors on the axial cutter vibration, cutting forces and the sugarcane cutting quality under complicated excitations

“…According to Table 7, the output frequency corresponding to 20 Hz is 5.86 Hz close to 6 Hz, in the main excitation frequency band of sugarcane field roughness, 1–6 Hz. According to the LMS modal test result of the SHEP got previously by our research group, 26 the first natural frequency of the SHEP is 6.819 Hz which is between 6 Hz and 7 Hz. 5.86 Hz is close to the first natural frequency of the SHEP, 6.819 Hz.…”

“…On the other hand, according to Figure 9, when the input frequency of the SSFE is 20 Hz, a wave crest of 26 the first natural frequency of the SHEP is 6.819 Hz which is between 6 Hz and 7 Hz. 5.86 Hz is close to the first natural frequency of the SHEP, 6.819 Hz.…”

“…An improved entropy value method [22][23][24][25] was used to calculate the sugarcane cutting quality (SCQ) evaluating value, y called the comprehensive cutting quality evaluating value (CCQEV) through four evaluating indexes of the SCQ, the number of axial sugarcane cracks, the axial crack depth, the axial crack length and the number of sugarcanes with broken ratoons, 26 as is calculated through the following equations. The greater the CCQEV is, the poorer the SCQ is.…”