Simulation of the tillage process using LIGGGHTS based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM)

Abstract

In the design of mine-clearing equipment, consideration of soil resistance and the prediction of soil mechanical behavior are critically important for achieving effective mine-clearance performance. In this study, soil resistance was first estimated theoretically using the Reece equation, and the mechanical behavior of soil was further investigated by applying the Discrete Element Method (DEM). The results show that both the resistance predicted by the Reece equation and the forces obtained from DEM simulations increase with increasing plowing depth; however, the forces predicted by DEM are consistently higher than those obtained from the theoretical calculation. This difference arises from the intermittent contact and interaction between individual soil particles and the plow, which are explicitly captured at the microscale in DEM simulations. As a result, the resistance force predicted by DEM is up to 30% higher than that obtained from the theoretical model at a plowing depth of 0.3 m. For shallower plowing depths below 0.15 m, the resistance forces predicted by the theoretical approach and by DEM are in close agreement. Overall, the DEM simulations are able to predict the soil cutting behavior and to visualize the detailed flow of soil over the plow blade, providing valuable insight for the design and further optimization of plow blades for improved performance.