Applications of Discrete Element Method in the Research of Agricultural Machinery: A Review

As a promising and convenient numerical calculation approach, the discrete element method (DEM) has been increasingly adopted in the research of agricultural machinery. DEM is capable of monitoring and recording the dynamic and mechanical behavior of agricultural materials in the operational process of agricultural machinery, from both a macro-perspective and micro-perspective; which has been a tremendous help for the design and optimization of agricultural machines and their components. This paper reviewed the application research status of DEM in two aspects: First is the DEM model establishment of common agricultural materials such as soil, crop seed, and straw, etc. The other is the simulation of typical operational processes of agricultural machines or their components, such as rotary tillage, subsoiling, soil compaction, furrow opening, seed and fertilizer metering, crop harvesting, and so on. Finally, we evaluate the development prospects of the application of research on the DEM in agricultural machinery, and look forward to promoting its application in the field of the optimization and design of agricultural machinery.