Biomimetic Design and Drag Reduction Mechanism of Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) Digging Shovel Inspired by Allomyrina dichotoma Based on DEM

ChunLing Zhang; YaZi Wang; Tie Zhang; DeLin Shang; Xiang Xu; Tai Xu

doi:10.2478/ata-2026-0015

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Biomimetic Design and Drag Reduction Mechanism of Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) Digging Shovel Inspired by Allomyrina dichotoma Based on DEM

Acta Technologica Agriculturae

Volume 29 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)

By: ChunLing Zhang, YaZi Wang, Tie Zhang, DeLin Shang, Xiang Xu and Tai Xu

Open Access

|May 2026

Abstract

To address the high excavation resistance and root damage in mechanised Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) harvesting, this study designed a specialised biomimetic digging shovel inspired by the drag-reducing morphology of the two-horned rhinoceros beetle (Allomyrina dichotoma). The shovel structure was designed based on 3D-scanned geometric features of the beetle and the agronomic requirements of raised-bed mulching cultivation. A root-soil-shovel interaction model was established using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) to simulate the effects of shovel shape and operational parameters on digging resistance and soil-root separation. Key structural parameters were optimised via Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Soil-bin tests confirmed the simulation results and drag-reduction performance. Compared to a conventional flat shovel, the biomimetic shovel achieved an average drag reduction of over 23%, with a maximum reduction of 31.4% at a 25° entry angle, 0.8 m·s-1 working speed, and 30 mm blade spacing. The optimal parameters were a vertical spacing of 4.13 mm, horizontal spacing of 3.71 mm, and a top angle of 130°, yielding a theoretical digging resistance of 162.15 N and an experimental value of 165.39 N (deviation 1.96%). This study provides a reliable biomimetic design method and engineering solution for low-damage, high-efficiency mechanised harvesting of Panax notoginseng.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ata-2026-0015 | Journal eISSN: 1338-5267

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Language: English

Page range: 123 - 134

Published on: May 15, 2026

Published by: Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

Keywords:

Panax notoginseng,

biomimetic digging shovel,

simulation optimisation,

Allomyrina dichotoma,

discrete element method (DEM)

Related subjects:

Engineering,

Introductions and overviews,

Engineering, other

© 2026 ChunLing Zhang, YaZi Wang, Tie Zhang, DeLin Shang, Xiang Xu, Tai Xu, published by Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Volume 29 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)