Calibration of discrete meta-parameters of bamboo flour based on magnitude analysis and BP neural network

In the research and development of technology and equipment for bamboo products deep processing, such as filling, drying, and medicinal use of bamboo flour (BF), the poor compaction and fluidity of BF materials entails the need for accurate discrete element model (DEM) and BF parameters to provide a reference for the simulation of BF processing operationsand the development of related equipment. The average particle size of the 5 types of BFs ranges from 0.136 mm to 0.293 mm, and the small particle size of BF particles causes to the number of BF particles in bamboo processing equipment to reach tens of millions or even billions. When conventional methods are used for simulation, ordinary computers cannot provide the required computing power. To address the aforementioned challenges, this paper proposes a calibration method for the discrete element contact parameters of BFs based on dimensional analysis and a back propagation (BP) neural network. Using particle scaling theory and dimensional analysis methods, the average particle size of the BF was increased to 1 mm, and the main discrete element contact parameters of the five types of BF to be tested were used as input layers. The injection method and sidewall collapse method were used to obtain the angle of repose (AR) as the output layer. Fifty groups were randomly selected using MATLAB for EDEM simulation, and the simulation results were trained using the BP neural network algorithm; an ideal neural network model was obtained, the discrete element parameters of different BFs were predicted, and physical experiments were performed to verify two types of AR and mold hole compression under calibrated parameters. The relative error between the simulated AR obtained through calibration parameters and the physical experimental values is less than 2.3%. Through BF parameter validity verification, the simulated maximum compression displacement and compression ratio after stabilization were 34.81 mm and 0.477, which were close to the actual experimental results of 34.77 mm and 0.461, respectively, verifying the accuracy of the neural network prediction model. The research results provide a reference for the simulation of BF processing operations and the development of related equipment.