Integrated Bionic Design and Experimental Research of Multi-Subsoiler Implements

Abstract In the process of operating subsoiling implements on sloping red soil in Southwest China, the Subsoiler tip faces significant challenges due to strong soil adhesion and severe compaction. By employing engineering bionics, integrating bionic geometric structures and surfaces, this study focuses on the Subsoiler tip and designs four types of bionic geometric surface structures: bionic convex hull, bionic micro-spike-convex hull, bionic scales, and bionic micro-spike-scales. Finite element force analysis and discrete element simulation experiments reveal that bionic surfaces and geometric structures exhibit significant advantages in terms of total deformation, equivalent elastic strain, and stress. These structures are less prone to deformation and fracture underload, demonstrating stronger bearing capacity. Discrete element simulation analysis indicates interference phenomena among the subsoiler during multi-subsoiler operations. Based on bionic multi-subsoiler implements, optimized designs were developed through discrete element simulation and soil bin tests. The optimized bionic multi-subsoiler implement features a micro-spike-convex hull surface, with micro-spike-scale surfaces arranged equidistantly along the edge corners of the shovel face, six on each side wing and three in the middle. The optimal operating parameters were a subsoiling speed of 1.25 m/s, an entry angle of 23.917°, and an entry depth of 280.167 mm. The relative errors between the simulated and experimental values for soil looseness and soil disturbance coefficient were 19.7\% and 18.1\%, respectively. Soil bin test results showed soil looseness and soil disturbance coefficients of 19.5\% and 17.6\%, respectively. At this point, the resistance reduction and wear resistance performance were optimal. This study proposes a bionic design approach for reducing resistance and enhancing wear resistance during the subsoiling process in the viscous red soil of Southwest China, providing a reference for the design and development of new equipment for working in this soil environment.