Development and optimization of a novel grain flow sensor based on PVDF piezoelectric film

A novel grain flow sensor consists of an impact plate and a PVDF(Polyvinylidene Fluoride)piezoelectric film was developed in this research.The kinetic model of the grain flow sensor was built to analyze the steady and transient vibration disturbances which had a significant influence on performance of the sensor,and the results showed that damping ratio of the sensor was the key factor to improve accuracy of the sensor.To maximize damping ratio of the sensor,the thickness of the impact plate and damping material were optimized according to a loss factor model of the free damping structure.The optimized results indicated the most appropriate thickness ratio of damping material and the impact plate was 6.A test rig equipped with the novel grain flow sensor and weight sensors which could simulate field situations was built to investigate the performance of the sensor,on which test experiments under different feed flows were conducted.The results showed that the maximum error of the sensor was 3.02%and the mean error was 2.15%,which revealed that the novel grain flow sensor could be used to measure grain flow.Comparing with conventional grain flow sensors,the novel grain flow sensor has the features of high accuracy,simple structure and flexible signal processing methods.

Proportional distribution method for estimating actual grain flow under combine harvester dynamics

The yield monitors use a constant delay time to match the grain flow with location.Therefore,mixing and smoothing effects on the grain flow are neglected.Although constant time delay compensates for time mismatch,actual grain flow at a combine harvester head is not equal to the grain flow measured by a sensor due to the dynamics effects.In order to eliminate the dynamics effects,a new method for estimating actual grain flow,called proportional distribution(PD),is proposed.This method assumes that actual grain flow is directly proportional to the feedrate.Based on this assumption,the actual grain flow results from redistributing accumulated grain mass over a certain time according to the profile of the feedrate.The PD can avoid the dynamics effects because the feedrate is measured at a combine harvester’s head.Compared with constant time delay,the proposed method can effectively estimate actual grain flow and be applied to improve the accuracy of yield maps.

Grain flow rate sensing for a 55 kW full-feed type multi-purpose combine

Real time sensing of crop yield is critical for a successful implementation of precision agriculture.Yield monitoring system is an optional component of a 55 kW multi-purpose combine harvester,developed in Korea,for both domestic and global markets,especially Asian countries where field sizes are relatively small.The aim of the present study was to fabricate and evaluate the performance of a grain flow sensor suitable to the mid-sized full-feed type combine for rice,soybean,and barley.Firstly,commercially available non-contact type sensing modules(optical,ultrasonic,laser,and microwave modules)were chosen for alternative candidates,to be further tested in a laboratory bench.Through the laboratory tests,the ultrasonic module was selected as a potential approach and the performance was improved by increasing the number of modules and their layout.Finally,the improved grain flow sensor was evaluated during field harvesting operation.Field tests with the improved grain flow sensor showed a good potential for rice(R^(2)=0.85,RMSE=126.14 g/s),soybean(R^(2)=0.78,RMSE=43.87 g/s),and barley(R^(2)=0.83,RMSE=37.39 g/s).Further research would be necessary for improvement and commercialization,through various signal processing and field tests under different field and crop conditions.

Influence of vibration on the grain flow sensor during the harvest and the difference elimination method

The grain yield data collected by the intelligent yield measurement system of the combine harvester is generated into a field plot yield distribution map,which is of great significance for guiding agricultural production.However,in the process of drawing the yield map,the combine harvester is affected by vibration during operation and the generated error data in the process of collecting data which will cause the drawing results to be inaccurate.This study researched two factors that cause errors,then,the influence of vibration interference on the measurement signal was eliminated by filtering,vibration isolation,and designing a double-plates differential grain flow sensor.Three methods were taken to eliminate random errors,gross errors and systematic errors,including using the arithmetic average value to replace the true value,the 3σcriterion,and removing the filling time data and the delaying time data.Finally,the grain yield distribution map was obtained through Matlab and Excel.The results showed that the interference frequency above 50 Hz could be eliminated by filtering,but it was difficult to filter the low-frequency signal which was close to the grain impact frequency.The vibration amplitude was reduced to 14.29%by adding a vibration isolation plate,and the SNR was increased from−4.67 dB to 29.21 dB by combining low-pass filtering and damping vibration isolation.When the grain feeding rate was 2 kg/s,the natural vibration amplitude of the sensor after difference was about 0.02 V and evenly distributed around the zero voltage 0.2 V.The influence of positive and negative offset on the average value of grain impact signal could be ignored,and the signal-to-noise ratio was increased from 29.21 dB to 62.49 dB.The results of field experiments showed that the yield map drawn can clearly display the yield value of the harvest area,which is used to guide agricultural production.

Fractality of grain composition of debris flows

Debris flows in essence are the process of mass transportation controlled by the constitution featured by a wide-ranged distribution of grain size. Debris-flow samples of different densities collected from different regions and gullies reveal that cumulative curve of grain composition, in particular for debris flows of high density, ρ5〉2 g/cm^3, can be fitted well by exponential function with exponents varying with regions and gullies. Debris flows fall into a narrow-valued domain of the exponent, as evidenced by Jiangjiagou Gully （JJG） with high occurrence frequency of debris flows. Furthermore, fractality of grain composition and porosity have been derived from cumulative curves in a certain size range, a range that determines the upper limit of grains constituting the matrix of debris flows. One can conclude that fractal structure of porosity plays crucial roles in soil fluidization that initiates debris flows, and debris flows occur at some range of fractal dimension, in coincidence with field observations.

Effects of simulated submerged and rigid vegetation and grain roughness on hydraulic resistance to simulated overland flow

Better understanding of the role of vegetation and soil on hydraulic resistance of overland flow requires quantitative partition of their interaction. In this paper, a total of 144 hydraulic flume experiments were carried out to investigate the hydraulic characteristics of overland flow. Results show that hydraulic resistance is negatively correlated with Reynolds number on non-simulated vegetated slopes, while positively on vegetated slopes. The law of composite resistance agrees with the dominant resistance, depending on simulated vegetation stem,surface roughness, and discharge. Surface roughness has greater influence on overland flow resistance than vegetation stem when unit discharge is lower than the low-limited critical discharge, while vegetation has a more obvious influence when unit discharge is higher than the upper-limited critical discharge. Combined effects of simulated vegetation and surface roughness are unequal to the sum of the individual effects through t-test, implying the limitation of using linear superposition principle in calculating overland flow resistances under combined effect of roughness elements.

Vertical Migration of Fine-Grained Sediments from Interior to Surface of Seabed Driven by Seepage Flows–‘Sub-Bottom Sediment Pump Action'

A scientific hypothesis is proposed and preliminarily verified in this paper: under the driving of seepage flows, there might be a vertical migration of fine-grained soil particles from interior to surface of seabed, which is defined as ‘sub-bottom sediment pump action' in this paper. Field experiments were performed twice on the intertidal flat of the Yellow River delta to study this process via both trapping the pumped materials and recording the pore pressures in the substrate. Experimental results are quite interesting as we did observe yellow slurry which is mainly composed of fine-grained soil particles appearing on the seabed surface; seepage gradients were also detected in the intertidal flat, under the action of tides and small wind waves. Preliminary conclusions are that ‘sediment pump' occurs when seepage force exceeds a certain threshold: firstly, it is big enough to disconnect the soil particles from the soil skeleton; secondly, the degree of seabed fluidization or bioturbation is big enough to provide preferred paths for the detached materials to migrate upwards. Then they would be firstly pumped from interior to the surface of seabed and then easily re-suspended into overlying water column. Influential factors of ‘sediment pump' are determined as hydrodynamics(wave energy), degree of consolidation, index of bioturbation(permeability) and content of fine-grained materials(sedimentary age). This new perspective of ‘sediment pump' may provide some implications for the mechanism interpretation of several unclear geological phenomena in the Yellow River delta area.

Grain size dependence of flow stress in ECAPed Ti with constant texture

The effect of grain size on the flow stress in an ECAPed Ti with a constant texture was investigated,assuming that 2,4,5 and 6 passes microstructures have a similar texture.The average size of recrystallized grains decreased to 0.5 μm,0.4 μm,and 0.3 μm with respect to the ECAP pass number of 2,4,and 6,respectively.The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and yield strength (YS) increase with an increase in the number of pressing.The UTS and YS of the 6 passes ECAPed sample were found to be 740.2 MPa and 580.3 MPa,respectively.An equation for the flow stress of an ECAPed Ti with a constant texture as a function of the strain and grain size was derived for the ECAPed metal.The following equation was finally obtained:σ(ε)=103.9+1825ε-9.6ε1/2·d-1/2+8.3d-1/2.

Influence of High-Speed Milling Process on Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Ultrafine Grained Profiles Produced by Linear Flow Splitting

The effects of milling parameters on the surface quality,microstructures and mechanical properties of machined parts with ultrafine grained(UFG)gradient microstructures are investigated.The effects of the cutting speed,feed per tooth,cutting tool geometry and cooling strategy are demonstrated.It has been found that the surface quality of machined grooves can be improved by increasing the cutting speed.However,cryogenic cooling with CO_2 exhibits no significant improvement of surface quality.Microstructure and hardness investigations revealed similar microstructure and hardness variations near the machined groove walls for both utilized tool geometries.Therefore,cryogenic cooling can decrease more far-ranging hardness reductions due to high process temperatures,especially in the UFG regions of the machined parts,whilst it cannot prevent the drop in hardness directly at the groove walls.

A NEURAL NETWORK-BASED MODEL FOR PREDICTION OF HOT-ROLLED AUSTENITE GRAIN SIZE AND FLOW STRESS IN MICROALLOY STEEL

For the great significance of the prediction of control parameters selected for hot-rolling and the evaluation of hot-rolling quality for the analysis of prod uction problems and production management, the selection of hot-rolling control parameters was studied for microalloy steel by following the neural network principle. An experimental scheme was first worked out for acquisition of sample data, in which a gleeble-1500 thermal simolator was used to obtain rolling temperature, strain, stain rate, and stress-strain curves. And consequently the aust enite grain sizes was obtained through microscopic observation. The experimental data was then processed through regression. By using the training network of BP algorithm, the mapping relationship between the hotrooling control parameters (rolling temperature, stain, and strain rate) and the microstructural paramete rs (austenite grain in size and flow stress) of microalloy steel was function appro ached for the establishment of a neural network-based model of the austeuite grain size and flow stress of microalloy steel. From the results of estimation made with the neural network based model, the hot-rolling control parameters can be effectively predicted.

基于光电对射阵列下谷物收获流量控制系统的设计

在谷物收获过程中,由于谷物的性质不同及收获机械的工作状态不同,谷物的流量往往会出现波动或过大过小的情况,直接影响谷物的收获效率和质量,甚至会导致收获机械的故障。因此,对谷物的流量进行准确的控制和调节是非常重要的。为此,设计了一种基于光电对射阵列的谷物收获流量控制系统,可通过使用光电对射阵列检测收获机的运动状态和收获物料的流量,进而控制收获机的速度和工作状态,以实现谷物的准确收获和控制流量。试验验证表明:系统具有较高的准确性和稳定性,能够有效地控制谷物的流量,提高收获效率和质量,具有广泛的应用前景。

Study of Distal Pyroclastic-flow Stratum from Tianchi Volcano in 1215(±15) Eruption:Pyroclastic-flow Over Water

In this paper, we describe three strata at the distal part of the pyroclastic-flow from the Tianchi volcano in 1215 （±15） eruption. One of the strata with crosslayers that are different from typical pyroclastic-flow strata may come from a ground-surge. The grain-size and scanning electron microscopy （SEM） analysis was performed to study the origin of the pyroclastic-flow. Characteristics of grain-size distribution show that it is similar with the ash cloud. Through the SEM analyses, we found some quench structures with less damage on the surfaces of the vitric pumices. These phenomena indicate that there has been hydration in the transportation processes at the distal of pyroclastic-flow. It has partly changed the transportation mechanism of pyroclastic-flow, which transitions form dense flow to diluted flow. This paper develops a new distal pyroclastic-flow model in the Tianchi volcano that can be divided into three stages, i.e. the quench stage, expanding stage and depositing stage.

coarse-grained CFD-DEM方法在不同流态流化床中的模拟验证

传统CFD-DEM方法的计算量随着系统内颗粒数目的增加而显著增加,coarse-grained CFD-DEM(粗颗粒)方法将若干个真实颗粒打包成虚拟颗粒从而显著减小系统计算量。在coarse-grained CFD-DEM方法进行应用之前,对其进行广泛的验证是有必要的。采用coarse-grained CFD-DEM方法模拟得到不同流态流化床的气固流动特征(固含率、压降、颗粒速度等),与传统CFD-DEM和实验测量吻合较好。另外,系统的计算效率随着粗颗粒放大系数的增加显著提升。研究表明,粗颗粒方法能够以较小的计算精度损失而使计算速度大幅提升,能够适用于大尺度稠密气固流动系统的模拟。

Spatial-temporal distribution of debris flow impact pressure on rigid barrier

Grain composition plays a vital role in impact pressure of debris flow. Current approaches treat debris flow as uniform fluid and almost ignore its granular effects. A series of flume experiments have been carried out to explore the granular influence on the impact process of debris flow by using a contact surface pressure gauge sensor(Tactilus~?, produced by Sensor Products LLC). It is found that the maximum impact pressure for debris flow of low density fluctuates drastically with a long duration time while the fluctuation for flow of high density is short in time, respectively presenting logarithmic and linear form in longitudinal attenuation. This can be ascribed to the turbulence effect in the former and grain collisions and grainfluid interaction in the latter. The horizontal distribution of the impact pressure can be considered as the equivalent distribution. For engineering purposes, the longitudinal distribution of the pressure can be generalized to a triangular distribution, from which a new impact method considering granular effects is proposed.

Fractal Structure of Debris Flow

One of the most remarkable characteristics of debris flow is the competence for supporting boulders on the surface of flow, which strongly suggests that there should be some structure in the fluid body. This paper analyzed the grain compositions from various samples of debris flows and then revealed the fractal structure. Specifically, the fractality holds in three domains that can be respectively identified as the slurry, matrix, and the coarse content. Furthermore, the matrix fractal, which distinguishes debris flow from other kinds of flows, involves a hierarchical structure in the sense that it might contain ever increasing grains while the total range of grain size increases. It provides a possible mechanism for the boulder suspension.

The Effect of Grain Size on the Viscosity and Yield Stress of Fine-Grained Sediments

In debris flow modelling,the viscosity and yield stress of fine-grained sediments should be determined in order to better characterize sediment flow.In particular,it is important to understand the effect of grain size on the rheology of fine-grained sediments associated with yielding.When looking at the relationship between shear stress and shear rate before yielding,a high-viscosity zone(called pseudoNewtonian viscosity) towards the apparent yield stress exists.After yielding,plastic viscosity(called Bingham viscosity) governs the flow.To examine the effect of grain size on the rheological characteristics of fine-grained sediments,clay-rich materials(from the Adriatic Sea,Italy; Cambridge Fjord,Canada; and the Mediterranean Sea,Spain),silt-rich debris flow materials(from La Valette,France) and silt-rich materials(iron tailings from Canada) were compared.Rheological characteristics were examined using a modified Bingham model.The materials examined,including the Canadian inorganic and sensitive clays,exhibit typical shear thinning behavior and strong thixotropy.In the relationships between the liquidity index and rheological values(viscosity and apparent yield stress),the effect of grain size on viscosity and yield stress is significant at a given liquidity index.The viscosity and yield stress of debris flow materials are higher than those of low-activity clays at the same liquid state.However the viscosity and yield stress of the tailings,which are mainly composed of silt-sized particles,are slightly lower than those of low-activity clays.

中国断陷和坳陷湖盆高可容纳空间层序细粒重力流沉积及其页岩油意义

重力流包括粗粒和细粒重力流,是深湖环境最重要的沉积类型之一,其中,细粒重力流能成为非常规页岩油的“甜点段”。研究该沉积在陆相湖盆层序格架中的分布规律,对页岩油“甜点段”的预测具有重要意义。作者通过对中国主要湖盆重力流发育与层序格架的系统对比研究发现,重力流沉积体系主要发育在高可容纳空间沉积层序中。断陷湖盆的低位域(LST)湖底扇近端发育粗粒重力流沉积,远端发育薄层细粒重力流沉积,其分布受沟谷和同沉积构造坡折的控制。水进体系域(TST)发育细粒水道—堤—朵叶体系。高位体系域(HST)发育非限定水道湖底扇,细粒重力流沉积分布在扇的远端。坳陷湖盆的水进体系域(TST)主要发育受洪泛影响的大型细粒水道—堤—朵叶体系,而在湖盆挠曲坡折的较陡斜坡发育细粒湖底扇体系。高位域(HST)及低位域(LST)既可形成细粒湖底扇体系,也可发育细粒的水道—堤—朵叶体系。分布在湖底扇远端和水道—堤—朵叶体系的细粒重力流沉积能形成页岩油的“甜点段”。泥流沉积形成页理型“甜点段”,细粒碎屑流、细粒浊流、细粒异重流和细粒过渡流沉积形成纹层型、层理型“甜点段”,细粒浓缩密度流沉积只形成层理型“甜点段”。细粒重力流沉积是页岩油勘探开发的有利“甜点段”。

THE LOSS OF STABILITY OF LAMINAR FLOW IN OPEN CHANNEL AND THE MECHANISM OF SAND RIPPLE FORMATION

In the flow on a mobile bed in an open channel, sand ripple often appears after the sediment begins to move. Different scholars have different views on the formation of sand ripples. This paper holds that as the ripple in general is very small, its formation is due to the instability of the laminar flow or the evolution of the small-scale coherent structures in the sublayer adjacent to the wall of the open channel. When the shear stresses caused by the disturbing waves or the coherent structure near the bed surface boundary and the water flow itself are greater than the shields stresses, responses on the bed surface appear and the sand ripple forms. If the frequency of the shear stress caused by the disturbance is close to the natural frequency of the sand grains that produced resonance, such a phenomenon is called the 'detection property' of the sediment. It is at this point that the maximum resonance appears and the sand ripple develops rapidly.

Performance Simulation of a Modified Geothermal Grain Dryer Based at Menengai Well 3 in Kenya

Geothermal energy can be effectively utilized for grain drying to reduce carbon emissions and also cut operational costs associated with conventional methods. The main challenges encountered in the use of the geothermal grain dryer, such as in Menengai, Kenya, include uneven grain drying and long throughput times. Grains near the hot air inlet dry at a faster rate compared to those near the exhaust end. Therefore, the grains must be recirculated within the dryer to achieve uniform moisture distribution. Grain recirculation is energy-intensive as it utilizes electricity running the elevator motors in addition to the suction pump. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was developed to study the airflow pattern and its impact on drying of maize. The model was simulated in ANSYS 21 and validated using experimental data. Finite volume discretization method was employed for meshing. Pressure-based segregated solver was used in the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation. Also, K-Omega turbulent model was used for enhancing wall treatment. The findings indicate that non-uniform hot air distribution across the grain buffer section causes uneven drying. Introducing filleted flow-guides results in a relatively uniform velocity, temperature, and turbulence kinetic energy distribution across the dryer. The average velocity and temperature magnitudes in lower compartments increased by 153.3% and 0.25% respectively for the improved dryer. In the upper compartments, the velocity and temperature increase were 176.5% and 0.22% respectively.

固体力学跨尺度计算若干问题研究

本文展示了固体力学领域跨尺度计算的若干问题和研究概况。(1)建立位错动力学与有限元耦合DDD-FEM的计算模型,实现了能够基于纳米尺度离散位错运动机制计算分析连续介质有限变形晶体塑性问题,提出微纳尺度(200 nm~10μm)晶体塑性流动应力解析公式,结合试验数据揭示了在无应变梯度下强度和变形的尺寸效应;(2)建立具有微相分离结构的纳米尺度粗粒化分子动力学模型CG-MD,计算获得聚脲材料在时域和频域下的存储模量和损耗模量,通过动态加载分析的DMA试验和超声波试验的数据验证,解决了连续介质尺度下微相分离高分子共聚物的设计难题;(3)通过数据驱动关联高分辨率的微米尺度CT影像和临床低分辨率的毫米尺度CT影像的特征值,建立了围关节松质骨小梁的等效模量和结构张量,为骨组织增材制造点阵结构设计和实现个性化骨缺损重建奠定了基础。