Theoretical Substantiation of the Motion of Grain Material Particles on a Sieve with a Combined Rod Profile
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32515/2414-3820.2026.56.135-147Keywords:
grain material, sieve, grain separation, grain particle, combined rod profile, self-cleaning sieve, elastic element, grain-cleaning machineAbstract
The efficiency of grain cleaning largely depends on the interaction between grain particles and the working surface of sieves. Conventional rod sieves with fixed slot geometry are prone to particle jamming and clogging, which reduce separation efficiency and process stability. This study presents a theoretical substantiation of the motion of grain material particles on a sieve with a combined rod profile consisting of alternating circular and triangular rods. The circular rods are rigidly fixed, whereas the triangular rods are mounted on elastic elements, enabling controlled variation of the slot width during operation.
A mathematical model describing particle motion on the inclined sieve surface was developed considering gravitational, inertial, frictional, and contact forces. The interaction between a grain particle and the combined rod profile was analyzed to determine the conditions governing particle orientation, passage through the slot, jamming, and subsequent release. The dynamic behavior of the elastic triangular rod was additionally represented as a single-degree-of-freedom oscillatory system, and its amplitude–frequency characteristics were investigated.
The analysis demonstrated that the asymmetric contact between the particle and the combined rod profile generates a turning moment that promotes particle orientation by its passing dimension toward the slot. The elastic displacement of the triangular rod leads to a temporary increase in slot width, facilitating particle passage while reducing the probability of clogging. Analytical expressions describing particle passage, jamming, and self-cleaning conditions were obtained, providing a theoretical basis for selecting the design and operating parameters of the proposed sieve.
The proposed combined rod profile improves the separation process through the simultaneous action of particle self-orientation and adaptive variation of slot geometry. The obtained theoretical relationships can be used in the design and optimization of self-cleaning grain sieves and grain-cleaning machines to improve separation efficiency, operational reliability, and process stability.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Petro Luzan, Hrinchuk Andrii, Olena Luzan
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