Parameter optimization and test of digging-shaking-pulling ginger harvesting device based on DEM-MBD coupled simulation
Keywords:
DEM-MBD coupling, ginger, harvesting machinery, soil, digging and shaking and pullingAbstract
The primary objective of this study was to address the challenges associated with the harvesting of ginger, namely the large resistance to digging, the high damage rate, and the high impurity rate of the harvested ginger. To this end, a digging-shaking-pulling ginger harvesting device (DSPGHD) was designed and optimized. The device was then analyzed in accordance with agronomic requirements for ginger planting and harvesting. This analysis involved the examination of interactions between ginger, soil, and mechanisms at each stage of the harvesting process. The study determined the key factors affecting the harvesting indices, including the initial angle of the clearing bar (IACB) φ, the length of the clearing bar (LCB) l2, and the frequency of shaking (FS) f. The coupled EDEM-RecurDyn simulation system was established, and the key factors were tested with the forward resistance, the ginger force, and the effect of the soil flow as the test indices. A single-factor test was conducted, and the test result data was analyzed to determine the factor influence law. The field orthogonal test was then designed to optimize the parameter combinations of the device, and the response surface analysis and multi-objective optimization method were used to obtain better parameter combinations of the evaluation indices of ginger harvesting. These were as follows: the IACB was 8.7°, the LCB was 256 mm, and the FS was 4.24 Hz. The sizes of the test indices were as follows: the forward resistance was 1526 N, the damage rate was 4.57%, and the impurity rate was 3.74%. The DEM-MBD model developed in this study has the capacity to investigate the interactions between the primary factors of the DSPGHD and ginger-soil. It can optimize the geometric structure of the machine and provide a theoretical foundation for field trials. The optimized results from the field orthogonal test can satisfy the agronomic requirements and use requirements of ginger harvesting, and reduce the input of labor.
Keywords: DEM-MBD coupling, ginger, harvesting machinery, soil, digging and shaking and pulling
DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20261901.9937
Citation: Wang F Y, Tian F L, Wang W L, Wang R C, Zhang H, Wang X. Parameter optimization and test of digging-shaking-pulling ginger harvesting device based on DEM-MBD coupled simulation. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2026; 19(1): 97–107.
References
Wu M, Zhao B H, Zong Y X. Analysis of World Ginger Production Layout and Trade Pattern. Northern Horticulture, 2019; (10): 141-150. (in Chinese)
Jia S T, Wang F Y, Huang X P. Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Ginger. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research, 2023; 45(07): 175-182+190. (in Chinese)
Zhang P C, Jia S T, Wang F Y, Huang X P. Experimental study on mechanical properties of ginger plants. Journal of Chinese Agricultural Mechanization, 2024; 45(01): 117-121. (in Chinese)
Zhang P C, Li F G, Wang F Y. Optimization and test of ginger-shaking and harvesting device based on EDEM software. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2023; 213: 108257.
Zhang J, Wang J, Du D D, Long S F, Wang Y W, Han C J, Xu Y. Optimization and validation of root-cutting device for Chinese cabbage harvester based on discrete element method. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2023; 214: 108314.
Shaikh S A, Li Y M, Ma Z, Chandio F A, Tunio M H, Liang Z W, Solangi K A. Discrete element method (DEM) simulation of single grouser shoe-soil interaction at varied moisture contents. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2021; 191: 106538.
Makange N R, Ji C Y, Torotwa I. Prediction of cutting forces and soil behavior with discrete element simulation. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2020; 179: 105848.
Chen M D, Liu X T, Hu P X, Zhai X T, Han Z L, Shi Y L, Zhu W J, Wang D W, He X N, Shang S Q. Study on rotor vibration potato-soil separation device for potato harvester using DEM-MBD coupling simulation. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2024; 218: 108638.
Wang Z D, Wang S S, Zhu P Y, Zhu D G. Research on key parameters of ginger rhizome excavation shovel based on discrete element method. Journal of Northwest A & F University(Natural Science Edition), 2025; 53(03): 124-136. (in Chinese)
Chen G B, Wang Q J, Xu D J, Li H W, He J, Lu C Y. Design and experimental research on the counter roll differential speed solid organic fertilizer crusher based on DEM. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2023; 207: 107748.
Yeon-Soo K, Ayub S M A, Wan-Soo K, Yong-Joo K, Sang-Dae L, Dong-Keun L, Seok-Joon H, Ju-Seok N, Seong-Un P, Ryu-Gap L. DEM simulation for draft force prediction of moldboard plow according to the tillage depth in cohesive soil. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2021; 189: 106368.
Chen J X, He L N, Ou P Y, Han J R, Yue N B. Research on Ginger Cultivation Techniques and Pest and Disease Control Measures. Seed Science & Technology, 2024; 42(22): 102-104. (in Chinese)
Wang Q, He Z. Efficient Cultivation Techniques for Ginger in Controlled Environments. Sichuan Agriculture and Agricultural Machinery, 2024; (05): 38-40. (in Chinese)
Xu J S, Wu C C, Zhang N, Cao X. Research Progress and Prospects of Ginger Cultivation. Contemporary Horticulture, 2024; 47(13): 62-65. (in Chinese)
Fan S Y, Sun Y Y, Teng X H, Liu J, Zhang S W, Miao H. Structure Design of Digging Ginger Harvester. Mechanical Engineering & Automation, 2023; (04): 83-84. (in Chinese)
Jia B X, Sun W, Zhao Z W, Wang H C, Zhang H, Liu X L, Li H. Design and Field Test of a Remotely Controlled Self-propelled Potato Harvester with Manual Sorting Platform. American Journal of Potato Research, 2023; 100(3): 193-209.
Li J W, Li X Y, Hu B, Gu T L, Wang Z J, Wang H L. Analysis of the resistance reduction mechanism of potato bionic digging shovels in clay and heavy soil conditions. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2023; 214: 108315.
Li J R. Potato-Soil Aggregate Fragmentation and Separation Characteristics Investigation. 2023. (in Chinese)
Wan L P C, Li Y L, Zhao H, Xu G H, Song J N, Dong X Q, Zhang C, Wang J C. Gradient throwing characteristics of oscillating slat shovel for rhizome crop harvesters. Transactions of the CSAE, 2021; 37(24):9-21. (in Chinese)
Liu Y, Luo C M, Zong W Y, Huang X M, Ma L N, Lian G D. Optimization of Clamping and Conveying Device for Sunflower Oil Combine Harvester Header. Agriculture, 2021; 11(9): 859.
Wang F Y, Qiu Z C, Pan Y F, Sun G Q. DEM-based parameter optimization and tests of digging green onions. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2023; 16(4): 126-133.
Xiao X, Xie F P, Zhao Z Q, Wang X S, Liu D W, Zhao Y. Optimized design and experiment of the tassel gathering mechanism for 4BL-1 type white radish combine harvester. Transactions of the CSAE, 2024; 40(11): 38-47. (in Chinese)
Wang Y M, Xue W L, Ma Y H, Tong J, Liu X P, Sun J Y. DEM and soil bin study on a biomimetic disc furrow opener. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2019; 156: 209-216.
Zhang Z H, Zhao L L, Lai Q H, Tong J. Operation mechanism analysis and experiments of shovel-type rolling soil-engaging components based on DEM-MBD coupling. Transactions of the CSAE, 2022; 38(15): 10-20. (in Chinese)
Wang W L, Zhang D K, Wang X, Wang F Y. Parameter optimization and test of harvesting device for digging and pulling green onions based on discrete element analysis. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2025; 18(1): 165-172.
Wang W L, Zhang P C, Wang X, Meng X J, Wang F Y. Construction of the particle simulation model for ginger-soil system using discrete element method. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2024; 17(5): 58-64.
Zhang L, Zhai Y B, Wu C Y, Huang S Z, Zhang Z E. Modeling the interaction between a new four-bar subsoiling mechanism and red soil using the improved differential evolution algorithm and DEM. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2023; 208: 107783.
Tan H C, Shen C C, Ma J L, Wu C L, Xu L M, Ma S. The reduction of energy consumption and soil disturbance mechanisms in trenching using biomimetic blades. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2025; 230: 109887.
Tang H, Xu C S, Zhao J L, Wang J W. Stripping mechanism and loss characteristics of a stripping-prior-to-cutting header for rice harvesting based on CFD-DEM simulations and bench experiments. Biosystems Engineering, 2023; 229: 116-136.
Wang J W, Xu Y N, Wang C Y, Xiang Y S, Tang H. Design and simulation of a trenching device for rice straw burial and trenching based on MBD-DEM. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2023; 207: 107722.
Lin J X, Liao Q X, Wang X F, Kang Y, Du W B, Zhang Q S. Exploring straw movement through the simulation of shovel-type seedbed preparation machine-straw-soil interaction using the DEM-MBD coupling method. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2024; 226: 109465.
Zeng Y, Jiang X H, Wu M L, Zhao Z H, Tang L W, Li P C. Development of the layered cut and throw ditching blade groups for oil tea forest based on DEM-MBD. Transactions of the CSAE, 2024; 40(08): 30-42. (in Chinese)
Hou J L, Chen Y Y, Li Y H, Li T H, Li G H, Guo H E. Design and experiment of shovel-screen combined green onion digging, shaking, and soil tillage device. Transactions of the CSAE, 2021; 37(18): 29-39. (in Chinese)
Hou J L, Li C, Lou W, Zhou K, Li Y H, Li T H. Design and Test of Floating Clamping Device for Garlic Combine Harvester. Transactions of the CSAM, 2023; 54(01): 137-145. (in Chinese)
Li H, He J, Wang Q J, Wang C, Wu Z Y, Guo Z Y. Analysis of slope-adaptive in covering-compacting device for no-till sowing based on DEM-MBD. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2025; 233: 110175.
Tang Z Y, Zeng Z W, Wu S L, Fu D B, He J H, Cai Y H, Chen Y, Gong H, Qi L. Optimizing soil resistance and disturbance of bionic furrow opener for paddy field based on badger claw using the CFD-DEM method. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2024; 227: 109549.
Wang X Y, Lyu D Y, Ren J Y, Zhang M, Meng P X, Li X Q. Design and parameter optimization of the cleaning device for a bagged potato combine harvester. Transactions of the CSAE, 2022; 38(S1): 8-17. (in Chinese)
Guan C S, Fu J J, Xu L, Jiang X Z, Wang S L, Cui Z C. Study on the reduction of soil adhesion and tillage force of bionic cutter teeth in secondary soil crushing. Biosystems Engineering, 2022; 213: 133-147.
Wang Y, Zhang D, Yang L, Cui T, Jing H, Zhong X. Modeling the interaction of soil and a vibrating subsoiler using the discrete element method. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2020; 174: 105518.
Xie C S, Wei W B, Zhu Y J, Xiao M H, Chen T L. Wear reduction damage mitigation and operational reliability analysis of rotary tiller knives based on the self-excited vibration theory. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2025; 231: 109991.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
IJABE is an international peer reviewed, open access journal, adopting Creative Commons Copyright Notices as follows.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
