DESIGN PERFORMANCE OF CUTING TOOLS OF CHOPPING MACHINES OF AGRICULTURAL CROP RESIDUES

Abstract

The agricultural crop residues are considered one of the most vital problems, which face the farming and environmental life. The suitable solution for tackling this problem is to recycle these residues to be transformed into useful products such as organic foods of animal (forage), compost and artificial materials (wood, paper). To achieve this goal, the cutting, crushing or chopping processes are considered important ones. The cutting process of plant materials is differing from the cutting process of engineering materials as mos!of the engineering materials are rather more homogeneous and isotropic than plant materials.

Cutting processes of agricultural materials can be performed via three methods. The first method is a process involving counter-moving blades, where both sets of blades participate in cutting. The second method is cutting process by means of a movable blade and a resting blade, where the resting blade supports the material. The third method is recently widespread method of free cutting that performed by only single blade, where one end of a relatively long stalk is fixed and a counter-support is ensured by the moment of inertia of the stalk.

During the cutting process, the cutting edge of the knife penetrates into

the plant material, overcoming its strength and thereby separating it. Through

'( j this cutting process, various deformations occur in the material, depending on

the form of the cutting edge and the kinematics of the process.

The main objectives of this work can be summarized in four points. The first objective is to reach to the best geometry and configuration of cutting edge. The second objective is for reaching to a suitable support of the cutting tool to