Micro-level stress characteristics of rapeseed particle during the seeding process using the MFBD-DEM coupled method

Numerical simulation is widely applied in designing seed-metering devices. However, research on the fragility of rapeseed particles and the flexible characteristics of seed-metering device components is relatively limited. A bonded particle model (BPM) was employed to develop an agglomerate model for rapeseed particles, with a deviation of 4.20 % in the crushing force and 11.45 % in the crushing displacement between the agglomerate model and those from bench tests. Plastic deformation and damage of rapeseed occurred when the compression displacement exceeded 15 % of the rapeseed particle diameter. The MFBD-DEM coupled approach was employed to investigate the force exerted on rapeseed particles by flexible components during the seed-protection process. The micro characteristics of rapeseed seed crushing, as well as stress deformation of the seed-metering device components, were extracted. The maximum stress exerted by rapeseed particle on these components was 4.211 MPa. This study could analyze the motion and force mechanisms of rapeseed particles under complex incentives, thereby contributing to the structural optimization of sowing machinery.