Analysis of the Wear-Resistance Characteristics of Bionic Ridge Structures
Authors: Zhang Jinbo , Zhang Qingzhu , Ge yiyuan , jiang yongcheng 
Published: October 2020

Highlights

Bionic technology can be applied to resolve agricultural engineering problems.

Pangolin Squama and Chlamys Farreri shells possess excellent wear-resistance.

Bionic ridges can improve sample wear-resistance.

Abstract. Consistent soil contact rapidly wears the soil-engaging components of agricultural machinery, such as ploughs and subsoilers. A bionic method was applied to their structural design to improve component wear resistance. Some animal organs possess excellent wear-resistant structures which can provide design inspiration for improving the wear-resistance of agricultural mechanical parts. Previous research found that many ridges exist on Pangolin squama and Chlamys Farreri shell surfaces. Those ridges cause Pangolin squama and Chlamys Farreri shells to exhibit excellent wear-resistance. Therefore, these ridge structures were applied to the design of experimental subsoiler samples (bionic samples) to enhance their wear-resistance. An abrasive wear tester was utilized to conduct abrasive wear experiments under special experimental conditions. These experimental conditions involved sliding speed, soil particle size, moisture content, and space between the ridges. Finally, nine experiments were conducted that subjected the bionic and flat surface samples to different experimental conditions, and their respective mass-loss quantities were measured. Results show that bionic sample mass loss was less than that of the flat surface samples under the same experimental conditions; bionic sample wear-resistance improved by 77%, 73.8%, 66.9%, 45.4%, 58.9%, 65.5%, 33.1%, 66.4%, and 42.6% when compared with flat surface samples under the same experimental conditions. Orthogonal test results reveal that the soil particle size most significantly affected sample wear-resistance, followed by the space between bionic ridges and the sliding speed. One reason that bionic samples exhibited excellent wear-resistance is that the soil particles underwent a “guiding effect” and a “rolling effect” over the bionic ridge surface, thereby reducing the “micro-plowing” that soil particles generated when moving over the contact surface. Mutual interference among soil particles also reduced wear. Part of the soil particles rushing over the bionic sample surface rebounded back; the rebounded soil particles collided with incoming soil particles, then the speed and kinetic energy of all of the particles decreased and sample surface abrasion declined. Moreover, “vortexes” generated by sample surface air and ridges lead to an “air cushion” effect which can lessen the number of sample surface soil particles, and bionic ridge sample abrasions can be significantly reduced. Abrasion experiment results analysis indicates that bionic ridges distributed on subsoiler sample surfaces can significantly improve wear-resistance. The bionic design method provides a new approach for increasing the wear-resistance of the soil-engaging components of agricultural machinery. Keywords: Abrasive wear, Bionic ridge, Optimal design, Wear-resistance.