OPTIMIZING TRENCHING DEVICE OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS VIA MBD-DEM COUPLING FOR ENERGY SAVINGS

This study addresses the challenges of high resistance, energy consumption, and complex operations in deep trenching in orchards by proposing a reverse trenching and backfilling scheme. A reverse-rotating chain trencher was designed for integrated trenching and backfilling. Through mechanical analysis and MBD-DEM coupled simulation, operating parameters affecting the process were identified. A three-factor, three-level test with forward speed(v), rotation speed(n), and working angle(γ) determined the optimal parameters as v=0.29 km/h, n=393r/min, γ=15°. Field tests yielded specific energy consumption of 0.328 kW·h m-3 and mean torque of 416.66 Nm, with simulation errors of 2.18% and 4.03%, respectively.