Evaluation of the interaction between a harvester rod and a coffee branch based on finite element analysis

Abstract

The validation of agricultural mechanization issues often involves experimental tests. However, with the increase of computers processing capacity, numerical analysis became common in agricultural applications, which reduces costs for prototyping. The use of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in new applications, the improvement of the existing models, together with a constant computers development can contribute significantly for the cost reduction in the agricultural industry. This work aimed to evaluate the interaction between a harvester rod and a coffee branch by using computational modeling via FEA. In order to perform dynamic simulations, three-dimensional models from a plagiotropic branch of a coffee tree and a harvester rod were obtained. In addition, samples from plagiotropic coffee branches were tested. The tests were supported by an accelerometer installed in the coffee branches in order to provide acceleration signals for FEA model validation. Results indicated that accelerations obtained from simulations were 3.14% higher than experiments, simulated displacements were 23.2% lower than experiments and simulated Von Mises stresses were close to values from the literature. This showed FEA potentiality for agricultural applications taking in consideration the interaction between machines and plants.