@article{Chen2025, 
author = {Yong Chen and Junwu He and Xing Yu and Hao Ma and Shengsheng Wang and Xiuli Zhang and Xinyu Ji and Xiaochan Liu},
title = {Calibration and experiment of the discrete element parameters of watermelon seeds},
year = {2025},
journal = {International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering},
volume = {18},
number = {4},
pages = {26-37},
keywords = {watermelon seed, discrete element method, Plackett-Burman experiment, steepest-climbing design, Box-Behnken response surface analysis},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.25165/j.ijabe.20251804.9570},
doi = {10.25165/j.ijabe.20251804.9570},
abstract = {As important factors in discrete elements, the physical parameters of watermelon seeds play a pivotal role in discrete element method. To obtain the discrete element parameters of watermelon seeds and improve the accuracy of the discrete element model, through a combination of actual and simulation tests, this research has calibrated the seeds’ physical and contact parameters with the seed metering device. Employing the Plackett-Burman experiment, this study has identified three critical factors affecting the stacking angle: the static and rolling friction coefficients between seeds, and the collision recovery coefficient between seeds and plexiglass. Using the steepest-climbing design and Box-Behnken response surface analysis, this research has optimized these factors to values of 0.716, 0.051, and 0.787, achieving a calibration error of just 2.60%. Verification with an air suction precision seed metering device confirmed the parameters’ accuracy, with relative errors below 7.65%. The discrepancy between the simulation and actual test results, as measured by the qualified index error, is successfully reduced to below 4.38%. This study thus establishes a solid foundation for the structural optimization of air suction precision watermelon seed metering devices.}
}