Measurement and Calibration of Discrete Element Simulation Parameters of Crushed Sugarcane Tail Leaves

Abstract

Discrete element simulation parameters of the tail stem and tail leaves of crushed sugarcane tail leaves (STL) were calibrated by a combination of physical experiments and simulation optimization design. First, the values or ranges of the basic physical parameters and contact parameters of crushed STL were measured using physical tests, and the results were used as the basis for the selection of the simulation parameters. Plackett-Burman testing was applied for the significance screening of the initial parameters. Then, the error values and significant parameters of stacking angle for the second-order regression models were obtained using the steepest ascent experiment and the Box-Behnken optimization test. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also performed. Finally, using 37.52° stacking angle of physical test as the validation target, the optimal combination of parameters was obtained: coefficient of static friction (COSF) for tail stem-tail stem of 0.45, COSF for tail leaf-tail leaf of 0.38, coefficient of rolling friction (CORF) for tail stem-tail stem of 0.14, and CORF for tail stem-tail leaf of 0.12. The error of stacking angle obtained from the simulation and the physical tests was 0.976%, which verifies the reliability of the optimal parameters.