EXAMINATION OF CALCULATION METHOD FOR THE FLEXURAL RIGIDITY OF CROP STALKS

Calculation of the flexural rigidity value (EI) is indispensable for prescription of deflection characteristics of crop stalks in harvesting□Conventionally□EI has been determined by either average EI of the whole stalk or average EI of each stems divided into node through the calculation method of cantilever with homogeneous section□However□deflection characteristics of crop stalks caused by mechanical operation such as combine harvester were not exactly presumed by these conventional EI through the experiment by authors. Further, actual EI of a stalk changes in company with a change of moisture contents as time passes during the experiment. Finally, efficient calculation method for determining EI is needed in order to improve these problems. In this study, mechanical model based on actual structure of the crop stalk with variety sectional area was proposed. This mechanical model is calculated by the theory of cantilever with continuous stages. Therefore, improvement of both calculating accuracy on EI and efficiency of measuring system was tried. At first, this calculation method was applied to piano wire of which EI was recognized in advance. As a result, EI calculated from this new method coincided approximately with piano wire's EI. Next, applying to crop stalks as same as piano wire, relationship between loads acting on crop stalks and deflection values calculated by EI using this new calculation method was exactly presumed in comparison with conventional method. Further, measuring time of deflection test was greatly reduced. Finally, new calculation method of EI will be available for estimating mechanical characteristics of so many kinds of crop stalks in harvesting operation. Further, in this study, new deflection test using image-processing apparatus by computer will be introduced.