Discrete Element Parameter Calibration of Livestock Salt Based on Particle Scaling

TL;DR

This paper calibrates contact parameters for salt particles in discrete element simulations relevant to animal husbandry, using particle scaling, experiments, and analysis to improve simulation accuracy for designing feeding equipment.

Contribution

It introduces a calibration method combining particle scaling, experimental screening, and simulation to determine accurate contact parameters for salt particles in animal husbandry applications.

Findings

Calibrated contact parameters with low error margin (0.6%).

Validated parameters enable accurate salt particle simulation.

Provides reference for designing feeding equipment.

Abstract

In order to obtain accurate contact parameters for the discrete element simulation of salt particles used in animal husbandry, the principle of particle contact scaling and dimensional analysis were used for particle scaling. Firstly, the Plackett Burman experiment was used to screen the parameters that significantly affect the angle of repose: salt salt rolling friction coefficient, salt salt recovery coefficient, and salt steel rolling friction coefficient. Considering the influence of other parameters, a combination of bench and simulation experiments was used to calibrate the contact parameters between salt particles and steel plates used in animal husbandry in EDEM. Finally, through the stacking test, steepest climbing test, and orthogonal rotation combination test, the salt salt rolling friction coefficient was obtained to be 0.23, the salt salt recovery coefficient was 0.544, and the salt steel rolling friction coefficient was 0.368, which were verified through bench tests. The experimental results show that the relative error between the actual value of the stacking angle and the simulation results is 0.6%. The results indicate that the calibrated contact parameters can be used for discrete element simulation of salt particles for animal husbandry, providing reference for the design of quantitative feeding screws and silos.