## 5 Conclusions  
The present study adopted the Hertz-Mindlin with bonding model to calibrate the discrete element parameters of FTB through a combined approach involving physical experiments and virtual simulation-based calibration tests. The optimal parameter combination was determined and subsequently validated through experimental trials. The main conclusions are as follows:  
(1) Experimental measurements yielded average dimensions for FTB as follows: major axis diameter (a) of 37.60 mm, minor axis diameter (b) of 35.06 mm, and height (h) of 24.37 mm. The moisture content measured by the drying method was 68.7%, and the density measured by the water displacement method was 1.04 g/cm\({}^{3}\). The Poisson's ratio of FTB was 0.373. The elastic modulus of FTB, measured by a texture analyzer, was 7.93 MPa. The coefficient of friction between FTB and the stainless steel plate was 0.63, while the coefficient of friction between FTB and industrial rubber was 0.66. The coefficient of rolling friction between the FTB and stainless steel plate was 0.14. The coefficient of restitution (\(e_{1}\)) of FTB with a stainless steel plate was 0.606, and the coefficient of restitution (\(e_{2}\)) between FTB was 0.366. (2) Shear tests were conducted on FTB using a TMS-Pro texture analyzer, yielding an experimentally measured maximum shear force of 37.6 N. This value served as the physical reference for the simulation-based parameter calibration. Utilizing EDEM software and the Hertz-Mindlin with bonding model, a bonding model of FTB was constructed through particle replacement. The discrete element parameters of FTB were calibrated by targeting the maximum shear force obtained from the shear tests. Single-factor tests and two-level factorial tests were performed to investigate the influence of diverse parameters on the maximum shear force. Subsequent significance analysis using Design-Expert software yielded a quadratic regression equation describing the relationship between the significant influencing factors and the maximum shear force, as well as the optimal parameter combination of significant influencing factors. The simulation results showed a strong agreement with the experimental results, further confirming the reliability of the parameters used for constructing and calibrating the FTB simulation model, effectively mitigating the influence of anisotropy on the study. The applicability of the discrete element model for materials with high moisture content has been improved. (3) Three different types of blades were designed and subjected to both shear experiments and simulations. A comparative analysis of the results showed that the simulated shear forces for the three types of blades closely matched the experimental values, with the maximum error not exceeding 5.11%, indicating a high level of reliability of the simulation outcomes. The shear processes using the flat and arc blades were observed to be unstable. Both blades exerted higher average shear forces on FTB compared to the oblique blade. In contrast, the oblique blade exhibited a smoother shear process and lower average shear force. Specifically, the percentages of the average shear force of the oblique blade were reduced by 52.23% and 29.55% compared to the flat and arc blades, respectively. Therefore, the oblique blade is recommended as the preferred option for subsequent slicing operations of FTB. These findings provide valuable guidance for optimizing mechanized peeling and slicing equipment for FTB, particularly in the development of key components. To further enhance the operational performance of FTB slicing equipment, future research should focus on optimizing the design of the slicing mechanism to improve its response accuracy and stability. In addition, future studies should delve deeper into the areas related to FTB harvesting and damage assessment, with an emphasis on integrating mechanical engineering with intelligent agricultural technologies. Simultaneously, it is crucial to extend the research on FTB to other crops and mechanical components.