Effects of cutting parameters on the ultimate shear stress and specific cutting energy of Canadian goldenrod stem

Summary Due to the lack of weed-specific designs in weeding equipment, this article conducted cutting experiments on one type of weed: Canadian goldenrod. This study examined the influence of various cutting parameters on the process of cutting Canadian goldenrod stems to determine the optimal cutting parameters. A quasi-static cutting method was used to cut the stems. The results indicated that cutting speed, stem oblique angle, blade oblique angle, and stem diameter significantly affected the ultimate shear stress and specific cutting energy during the cutting process. The response surface method was employed to explore the optimal cutting parameters. In this experiment, the minimum combined values of ultimate shear stress and specific cutting energy were achieved when the cutting speed, stem oblique angle, blade oblique angle, and stem diameter were 30 mm s -1 , 20°, 0°, and 6 mm, respectively. When cutting close to the ground, the optimized cutting method reduced the ultimate shear stress and specific cutting energy by 52.68% and 55.22%, respectively, compared to ordinary cutting. These optimal cutting parameters can support the blade layout and output power design of a weeder or harvester.