Performance Evaluation of a Cicada-Inspired Subsoiling Tool Using DEM Simulations

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Engineering
• Biomimetics
• Soil Mechanics

Background:

• Subsoiling is crucial in modern agriculture but demands high tillage forces and energy, impacting economic viability.
• Reducing draught force and energy consumption in subsoiling is essential for improving agricultural efficiency and sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a cicada-inspired biomimetic subsoiling tool (CIST) for reducing draught force during subsoiling.
• To compare the performance of the CIST with a conventional chisel subsoiling tool (CCST) in sandy loam soil.

Main Methods:

• Developed a soil-tool interaction model using EDEM (Extended Discrete Element Method) for simulating subsoiling.
• Validated the EDEM model with laboratory soil bin tests under controlled conditions.
• Optimized the CIST design and evaluated its performance against CCST across various depths and speeds.

Main Results:

• The CIST demonstrated a reduction in draught forces by 17.7% compared to the CCST across tested depths and speeds.
• Simulated results showed good agreement with experimental data, with relative errors below 6.1%.
• The CIST achieved smoother soil surface flatness and increased soil loosening efficiencies by 17.37%.

Conclusions:

• The cicada-inspired subsoiling tool significantly outperforms conventional tools in reducing draught force and enhancing soil loosening efficiency.
• The CIST design offers a promising approach for developing high-performance subsoiling tools with lower energy requirements.
• This research has practical implications for optimizing subsoiling operations, particularly in sandy loam soils.