DEM simulation research of selected sowing unit elements used in a mechanical seeding drill

Abstract

The paper presents the results of research aimed at the verification of the existing design solutions of four example sowing units for agricultural seed drills with the most frequently used types of sowing wheels. The research was conducted with the use of modern computer simulation systems based on the discrete element method (DEM) with the evaluation of the efficiency of selected design solutions in terms of achieved performance and metering uniformity. The paper includes a description of virtual research models and the employed mathematical models used for mirroring contact between seeds. Moreover, for the purpose of verification of the obtained results, bench tests were conducted using actual models of selected design solutions.

Keywords

• DEM
• sowing
• granular materials
• agricultural technologies