{"id":{"repo_id":"uwo","oai_identifier":"oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/39500"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uwo/oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/39500","repository":{"repo_id":"uwo","name":"Western University","base_url":"https://uwo.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"DEM-based numerical simulation of drainage plows and dewatering trenchers","abstract":"Discrete Element Method (DEM) numerical simulations are carried out to perform a simulation-based parametric optimization of drainage plow geometry based on the predicted forces, pressure distributions and topsoil placement. Two types of plows, parallel link (PL) and double link (DL), operating in sand and clay soils at various plowing depths are investigated. Key geometric parameters considered in the optimization include mole shape, plow position relative to tracks, plow back angle, mole length-to-height ratio, and plow point geometry. Results indicate that optimized configurations, specifically the modified PL plow and the high-feature double link (HFDL) plow, achieve reduced forces, enhanced traction, and improved pressure distributions compared to baseline designs. Shifting the plows 25'' backward from its original position is shown to improve track operating effectiveness. For the given mole dimensions, three length-to-height ratios demonstrate superior performance. Additionally, an excavator plow point may be a viable alternative if increased wear at the point tip and slightly higher wear on the front of the boot is acceptable. Then, the work is further extended to the investigations of a dewatering trencher cutting through soil. The dewatering trencher is a drainage machine similar to a plow but employs a cutting chain instead of a mole. Cutting torque is evaluated to establish the foundation for future research. The chain motion is controlled using a multibody dynamics approach then coupled with the same DEM framework used for plow simulation to simulate the complete trencher cutting process.","abstract_html":"Discrete Element Method (DEM) numerical simulations are carried out to perform a simulation-based parametric optimization of drainage plow geometry based on the predicted forces, pressure distributions and topsoil placement. Two types of plows, parallel link (PL) and double link (DL), operating in sand and clay soils at various plowing depths are investigated. Key geometric parameters considered in the optimization include mole shape, plow position relative to tracks, plow back angle, mole length-to-height ratio, and plow point geometry. Results indicate that optimized configurations, specifically the modified PL plow and the high-feature double link (HFDL) plow, achieve reduced forces, enhanced traction, and improved pressure distributions compared to baseline designs. Shifting the plows 25'' backward from its original position is shown to improve track operating effectiveness. For the given mole dimensions, three length-to-height ratios demonstrate superior performance. Additionally, an excavator plow point may be a viable alternative if increased wear at the point tip and slightly higher wear on the front of the boot is acceptable. Then, the work is further extended to the investigations of a dewatering trencher cutting through soil. The dewatering trencher is a drainage machine similar to a plow but employs a cutting chain instead of a mole. Cutting torque is evaluated to establish the foundation for future research. The chain motion is controlled using a multibody dynamics approach then coupled with the same DEM framework used for plow simulation to simulate the complete trencher cutting process.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Wang, Keyu"],"institution":"The University of Western Ontario","degree_name":"M Eng Sci","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Mechanical and Materials Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Zhang, Chao"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026-01-27","date_published":"2026-01-27","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:56:09Z","subjects":["Drainage plow","simulation-based parametric optimization","numerical simulation","Discrete Element Method (DEM)","draft force","pressure distribution","dewatering trencher","multi-body dynamics","MBD-DEM coupling method","torque"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["#14583"],"render_values":[{"text":"#14583","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/39500","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Zhang, Chao"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Wang, Keyu"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-03-30T18:31:24Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2026-01-27"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["The University of Western Ontario"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Mechanical and Materials Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["M Eng Sci"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["The University of Western Ontario"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Drainage plow","simulation-based parametric optimization","numerical simulation","Discrete Element Method (DEM)","draft force","pressure distribution","dewatering trencher","multi-body dynamics","MBD-DEM coupling method","torque"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["#14583"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/39500"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Discrete Element Method (DEM) numerical simulations are carried out to perform a simulation-based parametric optimization of drainage plow geometry based on the predicted forces, pressure distributions and topsoil placement. Two types of plows, parallel link (PL) and double link (DL), operating in sand and clay soils at various plowing depths are investigated. Key geometric parameters considered in the optimization include mole shape, plow position relative to tracks, plow back angle, mole length-to-height ratio, and plow point geometry. Results indicate that optimized configurations, specifically the modified PL plow and the high-feature double link (HFDL) plow, achieve reduced forces, enhanced traction, and improved pressure distributions compared to baseline designs. Shifting the plows 25'' backward from its original position is shown to improve track operating effectiveness. For the given mole dimensions, three length-to-height ratios demonstrate superior performance. Additionally, an excavator plow point may be a viable alternative if increased wear at the point tip and slightly higher wear on the front of the boot is acceptable. Then, the work is further extended to the investigations of a dewatering trencher cutting through soil. The dewatering trencher is a drainage machine similar to a plow but employs a cutting chain instead of a mole. Cutting torque is evaluated to establish the foundation for future research. The chain motion is controlled using a multibody dynamics approach then coupled with the same DEM framework used for plow simulation to simulate the complete trencher cutting process."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["DEM-based numerical simulation of drainage plows and dewatering trenchers"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Zhang, Chao"],"dc:creator":["Wang, Keyu"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-03-30T18:31:24Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2026-01-27"],"dc:description.abstract":["Discrete Element Method (DEM) numerical simulations are carried out to perform a simulation-based parametric optimization of drainage plow geometry based on the predicted forces, pressure distributions and topsoil placement. Two types of plows, parallel link (PL) and double link (DL), operating in sand and clay soils at various plowing depths are investigated. Key geometric parameters considered in the optimization include mole shape, plow position relative to tracks, plow back angle, mole length-to-height ratio, and plow point geometry. Results indicate that optimized configurations, specifically the modified PL plow and the high-feature double link (HFDL) plow, achieve reduced forces, enhanced traction, and improved pressure distributions compared to baseline designs. Shifting the plows 25'' backward from its original position is shown to improve track operating effectiveness. For the given mole dimensions, three length-to-height ratios demonstrate superior performance. Additionally, an excavator plow point may be a viable alternative if increased wear at the point tip and slightly higher wear on the front of the boot is acceptable. Then, the work is further extended to the investigations of a dewatering trencher cutting through soil. The dewatering trencher is a drainage machine similar to a plow but employs a cutting chain instead of a mole. Cutting torque is evaluated to establish the foundation for future research. The chain motion is controlled using a multibody dynamics approach then coupled with the same DEM framework used for plow simulation to simulate the complete trencher cutting process."],"dc:identifier.other":["#14583"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/39500"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["The University of Western Ontario"],"dc:rights":["Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International"],"dc:subject":["Drainage plow","simulation-based parametric optimization","numerical simulation","Discrete Element Method (DEM)","draft force","pressure distribution","dewatering trencher","multi-body dynamics","MBD-DEM coupling method","torque"],"dc:title":["DEM-based numerical simulation of drainage plows and dewatering trenchers"],"dc:type":["thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Mechanical and Materials Engineering"],"thesis:degree_name":["M Eng Sci"],"thesis:institution_name":["The University of Western Ontario"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:56:09Z"}