Journal of Agricultural Machinery
with the collaboration of Iranian Society of Mechanical Engineers (ISME)

Modelling, Simulation, and Optimisation Experiment: Wheat Threshing Process of Combine Harvester Based on DEM

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article- En

Authors

Q. Li 1, 2
Y. Wu 1
K. Zhao 1
H. Wang 2
J. Ji 1, 2

1 College of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China

2 Science & Technology Innovation Center for Completed Set Equipment, Longmen Laboratory, Luoyang 471023, China

https://doi.org/10.22067/jam.2025.94433.1409
Abstract
Grain loss and impact damage are key indicators of wheat threshing quality. To explore the mechanisms of grain loss and damage, this study reproduces the wheat threshing process by establishing a discrete element model of wheat plants and a simulation platform for threshing devices. It conducts simulations on the movement laws of material flow and distribution laws of threshed materials under different conditions of feed rate, drum rotational speed, and deflector angle. Based on simulation calculations, the average velocity and force laws of wheat plants were obtained, and the influence laws of feed rate, drum rotational speed, and deflector angle on the threshing process were analysed. Through multi-objective parameter optimisation analysis, it is determined that when the feed rate is 7 kg s-1, the drum rotational speed is 815 r min-1, and the deflector angle is 70 degrees, the threshing performance of the device is relatively superior. Bench verification tests before and after optimisation showed that the impurity rate of wheat decreased from 29.19% to 25.02%, and the loss rate decreased from 1.61% to 0.95%, with the error between the model prediction results and the experimental results being less than 5%. The proposed model and optimisation strategy can directly guide the structural improvement of axial-flow threshing devices, significantly shorten the research and development cycle of harvesting equipment, and provide a reliable technical basis for efficient and low-loss wheat harvesting.

Keywords

Discrete element method
Parameter optimisation
Simulation analysis
Threshing device
Work performance
Subjects

Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

  1. Ajmal, M., Roessler, T., Richter, C., & Katterfeld, A. (2020). Calibration of cohesive DEM parameters under rapid flow conditions and low consolidation stresses. Powder Technology, 374, 22-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2020.07.017
  2. Arnold, P., & Roberts, A. (1969). Fundamental aspects of load-deformation behavior of wheat grains. Transactions of the ASAE, 12(1), 104-0108. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.38773
  3. Boac, J. M., Ambrose, R. P. K., Casada, M. E., Maghirang, R. G., & Maier, D. E. (2014). Applications of Discrete Element Method in Modeling of Grain Postharvest Operations. Food Engineering Reviews, 6(4), 128-149. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12393-014-9090-y
  4. Chen, Z., Wassgren, C., Veikle, E., & Ambrose, K. (2020). Determination of material and interaction properties of maize and wheat kernels for DEM simulation. Biosystems Engineering, 195, 208-226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2020.05.007
  5. Fu, J., Chen, Z., Han, L. J., & Ren, L. Q. (2018). Review of grain threshing theory and technology. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 11(3), 12-20. https://doi.org/10.25165/j.ijabe.20181103.3432
  6. Horabik, J., & Molenda, M. (2016). Parameters and contact models for DEM simulations of agricultural granular materials: A review. Biosystems Engineering, 147, 206-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2016.02.017
  7. Horabik, J., Parafiniuk, P., & Molenda, M. (2016). Experiments and discrete element method simulations of distribution of static load of grain bedding at bottom of shallow model silo. Biosystems Engineering, 149, 60-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2016.06.012
  8. Horabik, J., Wiacek, J., Parafiniuk, P., Banda, M., Kobylka, R., Stasiak, M., & Molenda, M. (2020). Calibration of discrete-element-method model parameters of bulk wheat for storage. Biosystems Engineering, 200, 298-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2020.10.010
  9. Khawaja, A. N., & Khan, Z. M. (2022). DEM study on threshing performance of "compression-oscillation" thresher. Computational Particle Mechanics, 9(6), 1233-1248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-021-00456-4
  10. Khir, R., Atungulu, G., & Pan, Z. (2013). Influence of harvester and weather conditions on field loss and milling quality of rough rice. Paper presented at the 2013 Kansas City, Missouri, July 21-July 24, 2013. https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.20131620562
  11. Lu, C., Gao, Z., Li, H., He, J., Wang, Q., Wei, X., ..., & Li, Y. (2023). An ellipsoid modelling method for discrete element simulation of wheat seeds. Biosystems Engineering, 226, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2022.12.009
  12. Luo, W., Chen, X., Guo, K., Qin, M., Wu, F., Gu, F., & Hu, Z. (2023). Optimization and Accuracy Analysis of a Soil-Planter Model during the Sowing Period of Wheat after a Rice Stubble Based Discrete Element Method. Agriculture-Basel, 13(10), 2036. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13102036
  13. Markauskas, D., Platzk, S., & Kruggel-Emden, H. (2022). Comparative numerical study of pneumatic conveying of flexible elongated particles through a pipe bend by DEM-CFD. Powder Technology, 399, 117170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2022.117170
  14. Miu, P. I., & Kutzbach, H.-D. (2008a). Modeling and simulation of grain threshing and separation in axial threshing units: Part II. Application to tangential feeding. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 60(1), 105-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2007.07.004
  15. Miu, P. I., & Kutzbach, H.-D. (2008b). Modeling and simulation of grain threshing and separation in threshing units—Part I. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 60(1), 96-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2007.07.003
  16. Moya, M., Sanchez, D., & Ramon Villar-Garcia, J. (2022). Values for the Mechanical Properties of Wheat, Maize and Wood Pellets for Use in Silo Load Calculations Involving Numerical Methods. Agronomy-Basel, 12(6), 1261. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061261
  17. Schramm, M., & Tekeste, M. Z. (2022). Wheat straw direct shear simulation using discrete element method of fibrous bonded model. Biosystems Engineering, 213, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2021.10.010
  18. Schramm, M., Tekeste, M. Z., Plouffe, C., & Harby, D. (2019). Estimating bond damping and bond Young's modulus for a flexible wheat straw discrete element method model. Biosystems Engineering, 186, 349-355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2019.08.003
  19. Shi, Y., Jiang, Y., Wang, X., Thuy, N. T. D., & Yu, H. (2023). A mechanical model of single wheat straw with failure characteristics based on discrete element method. Biosystems Engineering, 230, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2023.03.017
  20. Shi, Y., Sun, X., Wang, X., Hu, Z., Newman, D., & Ding, W. (2019). Numerical simulation and field tests of minimum-tillage planter with straw smashing and strip laying based on EDEM software. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 166, 105021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2019.105021
  21. Siliveru, K., & Ambrose, K. (2021). Predicting Particle Separation and Sieve Blinding During Wheat Flour Sifting. Transactions of the Asabe, 64(3), 1103-1112. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.14276
  22. Sun, K., Yu, J., Zhao, J., Liang, L., Wang, Y., Yu, Y. J. C., & Agriculture, E. I. (2023). A DEM-based general modeling method and experimental verification for wheat plants in the mature period. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 214, 108283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2023.108283
  23. Wang, Q., Mao, H., & Li, Q. (2020a). Modelling and simulation of the grain threshing process based on the discrete element method. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 178, 105790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2020.105790
  24. Wang, Q., Mao, H., & Li, Q. (2020b). Simulation of Vibration Response of Flexible Crop Stem Based on Discrete Element Method. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Machinery, 51(11), 131-137. https://doi.org/10.6041/j.issn.1000-1298.2020.11.014
  25. Wang, W., Liu, W., Yuan, L., Qu, Z., He, X., & Lv, Y. (2020). Simulation and Experiment of Single Longitudinal Axial Material Movement and Establishment of Wheat Plants Model. Transactions of the Chinese Society for Agricultural Machinery, 51(S2), 170-180. https://doi.org/10.6041/j.issn.1000-1298.2020.S2.021
  26. Wang, X., Wu, W., & Jia, H. (2023). Calibration of discrete element parameters for simulating wheat crushing. Food Science & Nutrition, 11(12), 7751-7764. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3693
  27. Zareiforoush, H., Komarizadeh, M., & Alizadeh, M. (2010). Effects of crop-machine variables on paddy grain damage during handling with an inclined screw auger. Biosystems Engineering, 106(3), 234-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2010.02.008
  28. Zhou, Y., Shang, W., Hui, Y., Shi, C., Gao, J., Zhang, Y., ..., & Zhu, K. (2023). Construction of an Accurate Wheat-Grain Model Based on X-ray Tomography and Bonding Parameters by Discrete Element. Applied Sciences-Basel, 13(16), 9265. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13169265
Send comment about this article
Enter Name.
Enter a valid email address.
Enter a vaid affiliation.
Enter comments (At leaset 10 words)
CAPTCHA Image
Enter Security Code Correctly.
Journal of Agricultural Machinery

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 11 November 2025

  • Receive Date 14 July 2025
  • Revise Date 25 August 2025
  • Accept Date 02 September 2025
  • First Publish Date 11 November 2025

Home

Editorial Board

Publication Ethics

Contact Us