M. Liu - Hubei Agricultural Machinery Engineering Research and Design Institute, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan۴۳۰۰۶۸, People Republic of China.
C. Hu - Hubei Agricultural Machinery Engineering Research and Design Institute, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan۴۳۰۰۶۸, People Republic of China.
H. Ku - Hubei Agricultural Machinery Engineering Research and Design Institute, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan۴۳۰۰۶۸, People Republic of China.
H. Cai - Hubei Agricultural Machinery Engineering Research and Design Institute, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan۴۳۰۰۶۸, People Republic of China.

In order to improve the quality and efficiency of a ridger and explore the effect of working condition on its performance, a coupling model of the key components of a single-side paddy ridger and soil was proposed based on discrete element method. Then, with the working parameters of the ridger as experimental factors and its soil firmness and torque as the evaluation indicators, an orthogonal test was designed, and a parameter optimization was conducted through response surface analysis method. The optimal working conditions were set as follows: forward speed of the machine at ۰.۳ m s-۱, rotational speed of rotary tillage at ۵۰۰ rpm, and the working depth of the rotary tillage at ۲۰۰ mm. The corresponding soil firmness was ۲,۵۹۲.۵۸ kPa, and the working torque of the rotary cutting soil and compacting ridger device was ۲۵۵.۱ and ۳۶۰.۱ N m, respectively. Finally, a torque calibration test on the compacting ridger device was conducted and a mathematical model of the torque measurement was established. By comparing the simulation optimization and experimental results, the relative error of the output torque of the compacting ridger device was ۴.۷۷%, and that of the ridge soil firmness was ۶.۷۷%.

side ridger, soil firmness, torque calibration, test