Determination Method of Core Parameters for the Mechanical Classification Simulation of Thin-Skinned Walnuts

Simulation can be used to visualize the mechanical classification of walnuts. It can collect microscopic information about walnuts in the classification roller and guide its optimization design. In this process, simulation parameters are essential factors that ensure the effectiveness of the simulation. In this study, the crucial parameters of thin-skinned walnut particles in classification simulation were determined by combining the discrete element method (DEM) and physical tests. Firstly, the moisture content, shear modulus, stacking angle, and some contact parameters in the shell and kernel were obtained by drying test, compression test, cylinder lifting test, and physical test of contact parameters, respectively. A walnut model was constructed using reverse modeling technology. Then, the ranges of the rest contact parameters were determined using simulation inversion based on the Generic EDEM Material Model database. Second, the parameters significantly influencing the stacking angle were screened via the Plackett–Burman test using contact parameters as factors and stacking angle as the index. The results revealed that the walnut–walnut static friction coefficient, walnut–walnut rolling friction coefficient, and walnut–steel plate static friction coefficient significantly affect the stacking angle. The steepest ascent experiment produced the optimal value intervals of crucial parameters. Besides, a quadratic regression model of important parameters was built using the Box–Behnken test to achieve the optimal parameter combination. The stacking and classification experiments verified that the stacking angle and morphology are mostly similar under calibration parameters without any considerable differences. The relative error was only 0.068%. Notably, the relative error of the average staying time of walnut in the classification roller was 0.671%, and the dimensionless distribution curves of stay time were consistent. This study provides technological support to the simulation analysis of walnut classification and recommends novel methods and references to determine the parameters of other shell materials.