Bionic optimization research of soil cultivating component design

The basic biomechanical laws that apply to the clawed toes of animals with powerful digging abilities and the optimal bionic design of curved soil cultivating components with an analogous contour were researched in a novel way. First, the curvature and profile of the inside contour line of a field mouse’s clawed toe were analyzed. The finite element method (FEM) was then used to simulate the working process in order to study the changing characteristics of the working resistance of bionic soil- engag- ing surfaces and the stress field of the processed soil. A straight-line cultivating component was used for comparative analysis. In accordance with the simulation results, a series of soil cultivating com- ponents of varying design were manufactured. An indoor soil bin experiment was carried out to meas- ure their working resistance and validate the results of the FEM analysis. The results of this research would have important values in the optimization design of cultivating components for energy and cost savings.